Molecular biology tools targeting 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) were used to identify a predominant bacterial population in a full-scale dairy wastewater activated sludge system suffering from poor biosolids separation. Gram and acridine orange staining indicated that viable, Gram-positive microorganisms were present in samples removed from the influent waste, stream and represented approximately 50% of total cell counts in samples removed from the mixed liquor. Subsequently, the "full-cycle 16S rRNA approach" showed that phylogenetic relatives of Paenibacillus spp., a low guanine-plus-cytosine percent DNA-content, Gram-positive microorganism, represented up to 30% of total 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)-stained cell counts in samples of mixed liquor. Although fluorescent in situ hybridizations with 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide hybridization probes identified Paenibacillus-like spp. in samples removed from the influent waste stream, their abundance was less than 10% of total stained cell counts. Results of this study suggest that Paenibacillus-like spp. were present in low abundance in the influent waste stream, increased in relative abundance within the treatment system, and should be examined further as a candidate bacterial population responsible for poor biosolids separation. This study demonstrates that the full-cycle 16S rRNA approach can be used to identify candidate bacterial populations that may be responsible for operational upsets in full-scale activated sludge systems without prior information from cultivation or microscopic analyses.
- 16S ribosomal RNA,
- Activated sludge,
- Dairy food processing,
- Paenibacillus spp.,
- Bacteria,
- Dyes,
- Molecular biology,
- RNA,
- Wastewater,
- Wastewater treatment,
- Activated sludge process,
- 4',6 diamidino 2 phenylindole,
- acridine orange,
- oligonucleotide,
- RNA 16S,
- abundance,
- bacterium,
- biosolid,
- phylogenetics,
- water treatment,
- bacterium identification,
- cell count,
- dairying,
- fluorescence in situ hybridization,
- Gram staining,
- nonhuman,
- oligonucleotide probe,
- Paenibacillus,
- phylogeny,
- priority journal,
- RNA analysis,
- waste water management,
- Bacillaceae,
- Dairy Products,
- Equipment Failure,
- Food Industry,
- Industrial Waste,
- Models,
- Biological,
- Bacterial,
- Ribosomal,
- 16S,
- Ultrafiltration,
- Waste Disposal,
- Fluid,
- Water Microbiology,
- Bacteria (microorganisms),
- Posibacteria
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/daniel_oerther/22/