Submit to Microorganisms Review for Microorganisms Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 18688

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carlo Salerno

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy
Interests: wastewater treatment plant; water quality; biotechnology; environmental microbiology; metaproteomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Stefano Amalfitano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Water Research Institute, National Research Council (IRSA-CNR), Monterotondo, 00015 Rome, Italy
Interests: microbial ecology; water quality; water treatment; flow cytometry; omics techniques; multivariate statistics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water treatment plants are intended to remove organic, inorganic, and microbiological contaminants from influent/source waters through physical, chemical, and biological processes. In the case of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), treated water can be directly dispatched in final acceptor water bodies for possible reuse purposes when a very low environmental impact level is shown. In general, water treatment facilities produce water for a wide range of specific purposes, including industrial processes, irrigation, water recreation, and direct human consumption.

Notably, all water reclamation processes are fundamentally supported by the microbial consortia hosted within water and wastewater treatment plants. The composition and functionality of these metacommunities (including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, metazoans) can be different depending on the characteristics of either the source water or the operative conditions of each plant. Recently, the recurring detection of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, including antibiotics and pesticides), microplastics, and many other water pollutants, highlighted the necessity of further exploring the microbially driven degradation processes. This Special Issue offers a broad view of the microbiome, functional activity, and microbial relationships in the ecosystems found along the treatment paths, with particular emphasis on community profiling, assessed by advanced characterization techniques in different plant schemes and operative conditions.

Dr. Carlo Salerno
Dr. Stefano Amalfitano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

microbial community
wastewater treatment plant
water reuse
biodegradation processes
water supply systems
water resource management

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 2254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in Bacterial Communities and Pathogen Indicators of Raw and Lagoon-Stabilized Farm Dairy Effluents

by Gabriela Illarze, Amabelia del Pino and Pilar Irisarri

Microorganisms 2024, 12(2), 305; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms12020305 - 31 Jan 2024

Viewed by 731

Abstract

One practice for handling farm dairy effluent (DE) comprises recycling them to the soil with the challenge of balancing the tradeoff associated with environmental pollution through nutrient and microorganism loading. This study investigated seasonal bacterial community composition, diversity, abundance, and pathogenic indicators in untreated (Raw) and lagoon-stabilized (Lagoon) DE. The correlation between bacterial profiles and DE physicochemical characteristics was also analyzed. Pathogen-indicator bacteria were studied by enumerating viable counts and the bacterial community structure by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Lagoon storage effectively reduced total solids (64%), suspended solids (77%), organic carbon (40%), and total nitrogen (82%), along with total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci. However, this efficiency was compromised in winter. Lagoon and Raw sample bacterial communities presented different compositions, with several environmental variables correlating to microbial community differences. Lagoon-treated DE exhibited the most diverse bacterial community, dominated by Firmicutes (40%), Proteobacteria (30%), and Bacteroidota (7.6%), whereas raw DE was mainly composed of Firmicutes (76%). Regardless of the season, dominant genera included Trichococcus, Romboutsia, Corynebacterium, and Paeniclostridium. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of lagoon treatment for DE stabilization, showcasing its role in altering bacterial community composition and mitigating environmental risks associated with pathogens and nutrients, particularly in summer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microbial Diversity and Community Structure of Wastewater-Driven Microalgal Biofilms

by Olga Blifernez-Klassen, Julia Hassa, Diana L. Reinecke, Tobias Busche, Viktor Klassen and Olaf Kruse

Microorganisms 2023, 11(12), 2994; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11122994 - 16 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1167

Abstract

Dwindling water sources increase the need for efficient wastewater treatment. Solar-driven algal turf scrubber (ATS) system may remediate wastewater by supporting the development and growth of periphytic microbiomes that function and interact in a highly dynamic manner through symbiotic interactions. Using ITS and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we profiled the microbial communities of four microbial biofilms from ATS systems operated with municipal wastewater (mWW), diluted cattle and pig manure (CattleM and PigM), and biogas plant effluent supernatant (BGE) in comparison to the initial inocula and the respective wastewater substrates. The wastewater-driven biofilms differed significantly in their biodiversity and structure, exhibiting an inocula-independent but substrate-dependent establishment of the microbial communities. The prokaryotic communities were comparable among themselves and with other microbiomes of aquatic environments and were dominated by metabolically flexible prokaryotes such as nitrifiers, polyphosphate-accumulating and algicide-producing microorganisms, and anoxygenic photoautotrophs. Striking differences occurred in eukaryotic communities: While the mWW biofilm was characterized by high biodiversity and many filamentous (benthic) microalgae, the agricultural wastewater-fed biofilms consisted of less diverse communities with few benthic taxa mainly inhabited by unicellular chlorophytes and saprophytes/parasites. This study advances our understanding of the microbiome structure and function within the ATS-based wastewater treatment process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 1964 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment

by Alison T. Gomeiz, Yewei Sun, Aaron Newborn, Zhi-Wu Wang, Bob Angelotti and Benoit Van Aken

Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms11092328 - 15 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1028

Abstract

Aerobic granulation is an emerging process in wastewater treatment that has the potential to accelerate sedimentation of the microbial biomass during secondary treatment. Aerobic granulation has been difficult to achieve in the continuous flow reactors (CFRs) used in modern wastewater treatment plants. Recent research has demonstrated that the alternation of nutrient-abundant (feast) and nutrient-limiting (famine) conditions is able to promote aerobic granulation in a CFR. In this study, we conducted a metagenomic analysis with the objective of characterizing the bacterial composition of the granular biomass developed in three simulated plug flow reactors (PFRs) with different feast-to-famine ratios. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a clear distinction between the bacterial composition of aerobic granules in the pilot simulated PFRs as compared with conventional activated sludge. Larger and denser granules, showing improved sedimentation properties, were observed in the PFR with the longest famine time and were characterized by a greater proportion of bacteria producing abundant extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Functional metagenomic analysis based on KEGG pathways indicated that the large and dense aerobic granules in the PFR with the longest famine time showed increased functionalities related to secretion systems and quorum sensing, which are characteristics of bacteria in biofilms and aerobic granules. This study contributes to a further understanding of the relationship between aerobic granule morphology and the bacterial composition of the granular biomass. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 7332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Live Biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus: A Sustainable Method for Decoloration and Detoxification of Dyes in Water

by Shehnaz, I. B. Prasher, Naushad Ahmad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Shivani Raghuwanshi, Vijay Kumar, Sharf Ilahi Siddiqui and Seungdae Oh

Microorganisms 2023, 11(6), 1435; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms11061435 - 29 May 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1672

Abstract

In this study, white-rot fungus, Rigidoporus vinctus, collected from an unidentified fallen twig from Pathankot, Punjab, India, was used for biosorption of anionic Congo red and cationic Methylene blue dyes from an aqueous medium. The biosorption efficiency of the live biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus was investigated to optimize biosorbent dosage, process time, concentrations of dyes, and pH of solutions. The results indicated that Rigidoporus vinctus is more efficient than other reported bio-adsorbents for Congo red and Methylene blue dyes. The maximum biosorption activity of Rigidoporus vinctus for Congo red was found at pH 2, and that for Methylene blue was at pH 10, after 24 h of the reaction period. The process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics, which indicated that the interaction of both dyes to the adsorption sites on the surface of Rigidoporus vinctus was responsive to biosorption. The biosorption process could be well explained by the Langmuir isotherm for both dyes. The maximum monolayer biosorption capacity of Rigidoporus vinctus for Congo red and Methylene blue was observed to be 54.0 mg/g and 80.6 mg/g, respectively. The seed germination test was carried out, and it was assessed that the toxicity of dyes was reduced up to significant levels. Based on the present experimental findings, it can be concluded that biosorption using the live biomass of Rigidoporus vinctus can effectively decolorize dye-containing wastewater, thus reducing the hazardous effects of dyes on human beings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Resistance and Genetic Variability of Acinetobacter spp. from Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kokšov-Bakša (Košice, Slovakia)

by Jana Kisková, Adam Juhás, Soňa Galušková, Lenka Maliničová, Mariana Kolesárová, Mária Piknová and Peter Pristaš

Microorganisms 2023, 11(4), 840; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms11040840 - 25 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1787

Abstract

This study investigated the genetic variability and antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter community depending on the stage of wastewater treatment in Kokšov-Bakša for the city of Košice (Slovakia). After cultivation, bacterial isolates were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and their sensitivity to ampicillin, kanamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin was examined. Acinetobacter spp. and Aeromonas spp. dominated bacterial populations in all wastewater samples. We identified 12 different groups based on protein profiling, 14 genotypes by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and 11 Acinetobacter species using 16S rDNA sequence analysis within Acinetobacter community, which showed significant variability in their spatial distribution. While Acinetobacter population structure changed during the wastewater treatment, the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant strains did not significantly vary depending on the stage of wastewater treatment. The study highlights the role of a highly genetically diverse Acinetobacter community surviving in wastewater treatment plants as an important environmental reservoir assisting in the further dissemination of antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 4834 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rapid Reverse Purification DNA Extraction Approaches to Identify Microbial Pathogens in Wastewater

by Sarah Schurig, Rea Kobialka, Andy Wende, Md Anik Ashfaq Khan, Phillip Lübcke, Elias Eger, Katharina Schaufler, Arwid Daugschies, Uwe Truyen and Ahmed Abd El Wahed

Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 813; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms11030813 - 22 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3604

Abstract

Wastewater monitoring became a promising solution in the early detection of outbreaks. Despite the achievements in the identification of pathogens in wastewater using real-time PCR, there is still a lack of reliable rapid nucleic acid extraction protocols. Therefore, in this study, samples were subjected to alkali, proteinase K and/or bead-beating followed by reverse purification magnetic beads-based separation. Wastewater samples spiked with S. aureus, E. coli and C. parvum were used as examples for Gram-positive and -negative bacteria and protozoa, respectively. All results were compared with a spin column technology as a reference method. Proteinase K with bead beating (vortexing with 0.1 mm glass beads for three minutes) was particularly successful for bacterial DNA extraction (three- to five-fold increase). The most useful extraction protocol for protozoa was pre-treatment with proteinase K (eight-fold increase). The selected methods were sensitive as far as detecting one bacterial cell per reaction for S. aureus, ten bacterial cells for E. coli and two oocysts for C. parvum. The extraction reagents are cold chain independent and no centrifuge or other large laboratory equipment is required to perform DNA extraction. A controlled validation trial is needed to test the effectiveness at field levels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bacterial Resistance to β-Lactam Antibiotics in Municipal Wastewater: Insights from a Full-Scale Treatment Plant in Poland

by Natalia Jendrzejewska and Ewa Karwowska

Microorganisms 2022, 10(12), 2323; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10122323 - 24 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1303

Abstract

This study investigated enzymatic and genetic determinants of bacterial resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in the biocenosis involved in the process of biological treatment of wastewater by activated sludge. The frequency of bacteria resistant to selected antibiotics and the activity of enzymes responsible for resistance to β-lactam antibiotics were estimated. The phenomenon of selection and spread of a number of genes determining antibiotic resistance was traced using PCR and gene sequencing. An increase in the percentage of bacteria showing resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in the microflora of wastewater during the treatment process was found. The highest number of resistant microorganisms, including multi-resistant strains, was recorded in the aeration chamber. Significant amounts of these bacteria were also present in treated wastewater, where the percentage of penicillin-resistant bacteria exceeded 50%, while those resistant to the new generation β-lactam antibiotics meropenem and imipenem were found at 8.8% and 6.4%, respectively. Antibiotic resistance was repeatedly accompanied by the activity of enzymes such as carbapenemases, metallo-β-lactamases, cephalosporinases and β-lactamases with an extended substrate spectrum. The activity of carbapenemases was shown in up to 97% of the multi-resistant bacteria. Studies using molecular biology techniques showed a high frequency of genes determining resistance to β-lactam antibiotics, especially the blaTEM1 gene. The analysis of the nucleotide sequences of blaTEM1 gene variants present in bacteria at different stages of wastewater treatment showed 50–100% mutual similarity of. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Initial pH Conditions Shape the Microbial Community Structure of Sewage Sludge in Batch Fermentations for the Improvement of Volatile Fatty Acid Production

by Ylenia Di Leto, Fanny Claire Capri, Antonio Mineo, Alida Cosenza, Giuseppe Gallo, Rosa Alduina and Giorgio Mannina

Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2073; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10102073 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1923

Abstract

Conversion of wastewater treatment plants into biorefineries is a sustainable alternative for obtaining valuable compounds, thus reducing pollutants and costs and protecting the environment and human health. Under specific operating conditions, microbial fermentative products of sewage sludge are volatile fatty acids (VFA) that can be precursors of polyhydroxyalkanoate thermoplastic polyesters. The role of various operating parameters in VFA production has yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to correlate the levels of VFA yields with prokaryotic microbiota structures of sewage sludge in two sets of batch fermentations with an initial pH of 8 and 10. The sewage sludge used to inoculate the batch fermentations was collected from a Sicilian WWTP located in Marineo (Italy) as a case study. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that initial pH 10 stimulated chemical oxygen demands (sCOD) and VFA yields (2020 mg COD/L) in comparison with initial pH 8. Characterization of the sewage sludge prokaryotic community structures—analyzed by next-generation sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons—demonstrated that the improved yield of VFA paralleled the increased abundance of fermenting bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes phyla and, conversely, the reduced abundance of VFA-degrading strains, such as archaeal methanogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 1406 KiB

Open AccessReview

Microbial Ecology of Granular Biofilm Technologies for Wastewater Treatment: A Review

by Aurora Rosa-Masegosa, Alejandro Rodriguez-Sanchez, Susanna Gorrasi, Massimiliano Fenice, Alejandro Gonzalez-Martinez, Jesus Gonzalez-Lopez and Barbara Muñoz-Palazon

Microorganisms 2024, 12(3), 433; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms12030433 - 20 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 938

Abstract

Nowadays, the discharge of wastewater is a global concern due to the damage caused to human and environmental health. Wastewater treatment has progressed to provide environmentally and economically sustainable technologies. The biological treatment of wastewater is one of the fundamental bases of this field, and the employment of new technologies based on granular biofilm systems is demonstrating success in tackling the environmental issues derived from the discharge of wastewater. The granular-conforming microorganisms must be evaluated as functional entities because their activities and functions for removing pollutants are interconnected with the surrounding microbiota. The deep knowledge of microbial communities allows for the improvement in system operation, as the proliferation of microorganisms in charge of metabolic roles could be modified by adjustments to operational conditions. This is why engineering must consider the intrinsic microbiological aspects of biological wastewater treatment systems to obtain the most effective performance. This review provides an extensive view of the microbial ecology of biological wastewater treatment technologies based on granular biofilms for mitigating water pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 450 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (Nonylphenol and Bisphenol A)–Sources, Harmfulness and Laccase-Assisted Degradation in the Aquatic Environment

by Agnieszka Gałązka and Urszula Jankiewicz

Microorganisms 2022, 10(11), 2236; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10112236 - 11 Nov 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3036

Abstract

Environmental pollution with organic substances has become one of the world’s major problems. Although pollutants occur in the environment at concentrations ranging from nanograms to micrograms per liter, they can have a detrimental effect on species inhabiting aquatic environments. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a particularly dangerous group because they have estrogenic activity. Among EDCs, the alkylphenols commonly used in households deserve attention, from where they go to sewage treatment plants, and then to water reservoirs. New methods of wastewater treatment and removal of high concentrations of xenoestrogens from the aquatic environment are still being searched for. One promising approach is bioremediation, which uses living organisms such as fungi, bacteria, and plants to produce enzymes capable of breaking down organic pollutants. These enzymes include laccase, produced by white rot fungi. The ability of laccase to directly oxidize phenols and other aromatic compounds has become the focus of attention of researchers from around the world. Recent studies show the enormous potential of laccase application in processes such as detoxification and biodegradation of pollutants in natural and industrial wastes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Microbial Ecosystems in Water and Wastewater Treatment

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI