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This study aimed to compare the microbial community structures and compositions in composting and vermicomposting processes. We applied 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing to analyze the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria obtained from bio-stabilization of sewage sludge and cattle dung. Results demonstrated that vermicomposting process presented higher operational taxonomic units and bacterial diversity than the composting. Analysis using weighted UniFrac indicated that composting exhibited higher effects on shaping microbial community structure than the vermicomposting. The succession of dominant bacteria was also detected during composting. Firmicutes was the dominant bacteria in the thermophilic phase of composting and shifted to Actinomycetes in the maturing stage. By contrast, Proteobacteria accounted for the highest proportions in the whole process of the vermicomposting. Furthermore, vermicomposting contained more uncultured and unidentified bacteria at the taxonomy level of genus than the composting. In summary, the bacterial community during composting significantly differed from that during vermicomposting. These two techniques played different roles in changing the diversity and composition of microbial communities.

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This study aims to reveal the effects of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) on bacterial profiles during the vermicomposting process of sewage sludge and cattle dung with the high-throughput sequencing technology. The earthworms could accelerate organic degradation and improve the stabilization process. Moreover, the addition of earthworms not only affected the bacterial numbers, but also increased the bacterial community diversity. The activity of earthworms had significant effects on the bacterial community structure as the bacterial community was clearly different between the vermicomposting and the control treatment. Furthermore, the earthworms affected the physical and chemical properties of substrates, thus promoting the growth of some microorganisms, such as Flavobacteria, Acidbacteria, and Planctomycetes. Earthworms largely inhibited the growth of various human pathogenic bacteria. In summary, earthworms significantly affected the bacterial community in vermicomposting and it could be applied as an authentically effective technique for the stabilization of organic wastes.

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