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A sequential batch reactor (SBR) and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) were inoculated with the same sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant, supplemented with ammonium, and operated in parallel for 84 days. It was investigated whether the functional stability of the nitrification process corresponded with a static ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) community. The SBR provided complete nitrification during nearly the whole experimental run, whereas the MBR showed a buildup of 0 to 2 mg nitrite-N liter ؊1 from day 45 until day 84. Based on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles, two novel approaches were introduced to characterize and quantify the community dynamics and interspecies abundance ratios: (i) the rate of change [⌬ t(week) ] parameter and (ii) the Pareto-Lorenz curve distribution pattern. During the whole sampling period, it was observed that neither of the reactor types maintained a static microbial community and that the SBR evolved more gradually than the MBR, particularly with respect to AOB (i.e., average weekly community changes of 12.6% ؎ 5.2% for the SBR and 24.6% ؎ 14.3% for the MBR). Based on the Pareto-Lorenz curves, it was observed that only a small group of AOB species played a numerically dominant role in the nitritation of both reactors, and this was true especially for the MBR. The remaining less dominant species were speculated to constitute a reserve of AOB which can proliferate to replace the dominant species. The value of these parameters in terms of tools to assist the operation of activated-sludge systems is discussed. Fernandez et al. (12) demonstrated that ecosystem stability encompasses a broad spectrum of definitions. These definitions resolve into two components: the measurable functional properties of the ecosystem and the change over time of the community composition. Frequently, only the functional parameters are evaluated (37), but recently attempts were made to relate (dys)functioning with the structure of a microbial community (13,25,46,49). It was found that highly dynamic communities can still maintain a stable ecosystem function (12, 25).Curtis and Sloan (8) postulated that the relationship between structure and function in a microbial community can be evaluated only through an understanding of the source of diversity from which the community is drawn, named the global reservoir or metacommunity. Up to now, diversity has been mainly measured statically, based on indices such as Shannon and Simpson indices. By adding Lorenz curves, a nonambiguous graphical presentation of species evenness can be provided (31,35,42), investigating interspecies abundance ratios and thus the internal community structure. Besides the importance of the community diversity and composition at one time point, the dynamics of microbial communities can play an important role in the functionality of a system (49). Nevertheless, due to infrequent sampling, the dynamics of functionally stable microbial communities has not yet been quantified in terms of a rate of change on a sho...

SummaryInfections caused by antibiotic-resistant luminescent Vibrios can cause dramatic losses in aquaculture. In this study, the short-chain fatty acid b-hydroxybutyrate and its polymer poly-bhydroxybutyrate were investigated as possible new biocontrol agents. b-Hydroxybutyrate was shown to completely inhibit the growth of pathogenic Vibrio campbelli at 100 mM. Moreover, the addition of 100 mM of this fatty acid to the culture water of Artemia nauplii infected with the V. campbelli strain significantly increased the survival of the nauplii. As Artemia is a non-selective and particle filter feeder, we also investigated whether poly-b-hydroxybutyrate particles could be used to protect Artemia from the pathogenic V. campbellii. The addition of 100 mg l -1 poly-b-hydroxybutyrate or more to the Artemia culture water offered a preventive and curative protection from the pathogen as a significantly enhanced survival was noticed. If added as a preventive treatment, a complete protection of infected nauplii (no significant mortality compared with uninfected nauplii) was observed at 1000 mg l -1 poly-bhydroxybutyrate. Our data indicate that the use of poly-b-hydroxybutyrate might constitute an ecologically and economically sustainable alternative strategy to fight infections in aquaculture.

This study examined whether Legionella pneumophila is able to thrive on heat-killed microbial cells (necrotrophy) present in biofilms or heat-treated water systems. Quantification by means of plate counting, real-time PCR, and flow cytometry demonstrated necrotrophic growth of L. pneumophila in water after 96 h, when at least 100 dead cells are available to one L. pneumophila cell. Compared to the starting concentration of L. pneumophila, the maximum observed necrotrophic growth was 1.89 log units for real-time PCR and 1.49 log units for plate counting. The average growth was 1.57 ؎ 0.32 log units (n ‫؍‬ 5) for real-time PCR and 1.14 ؎ 0.35 log units (n ‫؍‬ 5) for plate counting. Viability staining and flow cytometry showed that the fraction of living cells in the L. pneumophila population rose from the initial 54% to 82% after 96 h. Growth was measured on heat-killed Pseudomonas putida, Escherichia coli, Acanthamoeba castellanii, Saccharomyces boulardii, and a biofilm sample. Gram-positive organisms did not result in significant growth of L. pneumophila, probably due to their robust cell wall structure. Although necrotrophy showed lower growth yields compared to replication within protozoan hosts, these findings indicate that it may be of major importance in the environmental persistence of L. pneumophila. Techniques aimed at the elimination of protozoa or biofilm from water systems will not necessarily result in a subsequent removal of L. pneumophila unless the formation of dead microbial cells is minimized.