Bacteriophages—potential for application in wastewater treatment processes

Withey, S.; Cartmell, Elise; Avery, Lisa M.; Stephenson, Tom

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.09.021

Cited by 188 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 135 publications

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“…This equated to B326 times more E. coli removal than that achieved by E. phage lambda. The lowered involvement of viral-associated lysis for E. coli removal is also consistent with previous work (Withey et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics reveal predation by protozoa drives E. coli removal in slow sand filters

et al. 2014

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Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics were applied to study samples taken from laboratoryscale slow sand filters 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after challenging with 13 C-labelled Escherichia coli to determine the mechanisms and organisms responsible for coliform removal. Before spiking, the filters had been continuously operated for 7 weeks using water from the River Kelvin, Glasgow as their influent source. Direct counts and quantitative PCR assays revealed a clear predator-prey response between protozoa and E. coli. The importance of top-down trophic-interactions was confirmed by metagenomic analysis, identifying several protozoan and viral species connected to E. coli attrition, with protozoan grazing responsible for the majority of the removal. In addition to top-down mechanisms, indirect mechanisms, such as algal reactive oxygen species-induced lysis, and mutualistic interactions between algae and fungi, were also associated with coliform removal. The findings significantly further our understanding of the processes and trophic interactions underpinning E. coli removal. This study provides an example for similar studies, and the opportunity to better understand, manage and enhance E. coli removal by allowing the creation of more complex trophic interaction models.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics reveal predation by protozoa drives E. coli removal in slow sand filters

et al. 2014

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“…These foams are typically stabilized by members of the mycolic acid-containing Actinobacteria (the Mycolata), although other hydrophobic filamentous bacteria, including "Candidatus Microthrix parvicella," are also important (12,24,39). One potentially attractive approach for controlling such foaming events is the use of lytic bacteriophages targeting the problematic foam-stabilizing populations (46,48). Similar "phage therapy" strategies have been proposed to treat infectious diseases (6) and decrease bacterial contaminants in food (50).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome Sequence and Characterization of the Tsukamurella Bacteriophage TPA2

Petrovski

Seviour

Tillett

2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

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The formation of stable foam in activated sludge plants is a global problem for which control is difficult. These foams are often stabilized by hydrophobic mycolic acid-synthesizing Actinobacteria, among which are Tsukamurella spp. This paper describes the isolation from activated sludge of the novel double-stranded DNA phage TPA2. This polyvalent Siphoviridae family phage is lytic for most Tsukamurella species. Whole-genome sequencing reveals that the TPA2 genome is circularly permuted (61,440 bp) and that 70% of its sequence is novel. We have identified 78 putative open reading frames, 95 pairs of inverted repeats, and 6 palindromes. The TPA2 genome has a modular gene structure that shares some similarity to those of Mycobacterium phages. A number of the genes display a mosaic architecture, suggesting that the TPA2 genome has evolved at least in part from genetic recombination events. The genome sequence reveals many novel genes that should inform any future discussion on Tsukamurella phage evolution.A common problem in activated sludge systems is the formation of stable foams on the aerated reactor, leading to major environmental, operational, cosmetic, and health problems (12,41,42). These foams are typically stabilized by members of the mycolic acid-containing Actinobacteria (the Mycolata), although other hydrophobic filamentous bacteria, including "Candidatus Microthrix parvicella," are also important (12,24,39). One potentially attractive approach for controlling such foaming events is the use of lytic bacteriophages targeting the problematic foam-stabilizing populations (46, 48). Similar "phage therapy" strategies have been proposed to treat infectious diseases (6) and decrease bacterial contaminants in food (50). Furthermore, Thomas et al. (46) showed that Mycolata lytic bacteriophages could be isolated readily from activated sludge, making the development of a phage-based foam control approach an environmentally safe and attractive option for this worldwide operational problem.Tsukamurella is in the suborder Corynebacterineae, and on the basis of its mycolic acid-containing hydrophobic cell surface it has been categorized as a Mycolata (18). Tsukamurella spp. have been isolated from activated sludge foams (12, 31), arthropods (44), and soil (18) and more recently in opportunistic clinical infections (23, 43). Although Tsukamurella spp. are a problem in environmental and medical contexts, little attention has been directed toward the isolation and characterization of bacteriophages specific for members of this genus. To our knowledge, only one partially characterized Tsukamurella phage (TPA1, targeting T. paurometabola) has been reported in the literature (46). With the aim of developing a biocontrol approach to manage foaming within activated sludge systems, we have sought to isolate and characterize new lytic phages for members of this genus.More fundamentally, the ecological role of bacteriophages in activated sludge communities has received relatively little attention. This is surprising given the ...

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“…The more frequently reported mycolata in foam include members of the genus Gordonia (13), and among those cultured from foam is Gordonia terrae (26,27). One environmentally attractive approach to prevent foaming is to apply lytic phages to reduce the numbers of the causative organisms below the threshold required for stable foam formation (33,47,49). A similar philosophy has been proposed, and in some cases adopted, to treat antibioticresistant organisms in clinical infections (24) and to eliminate pathogenic bacteria during food processing (30).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome Sequences and Characterization of the Related Gordonia Phages GTE5 and GRU1 and Their Use as Potential Biocontrol Agents

Petrovski

Tillett

Seviour

2012

Appl Environ Microbiol

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Activated sludge plants suffer frequently from the operational problem of stable foam formation on aerobic reactor surfaces, which can be difficult to prevent. Many foams are stabilized by mycolic acid-containing Actinobacteria, the mycolata. The in situ biocontrol of foaming using phages is an attractive strategy. We describe two polyvalent phages, GTE5 and GRU1, targeting Gordonia terrae and Gordonia rubrupertincta, respectively, isolated from activated sludge. Phage GRU1 also propagates on Nocardia nova. Both phages belong to the family Siphoviridae and have similar-size icosahedral heads that encapsulate doublestranded DNA genomes (ϳ65 kb). Their genome sequences are similar to each other but markedly different from those of other sequenced phages. Both are arranged in a modular fashion. These phages can reduce or eliminate foam formation by their host cells under laboratory conditions.

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Bacteriophages—potential for application in wastewater treatment processes

Cited by 188 publications

References 135 publications

Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics reveal predation by protozoa drives E. coli removal in slow sand filters

Stable-isotope probing and metagenomics reveal predation by protozoa drives E. coli removal in slow sand filters

Genome Sequence and Characterization of the Tsukamurella Bacteriophage TPA2

Genome Sequences and Characterization of the Related Gordonia Phages GTE5 and GRU1 and Their Use as Potential Biocontrol Agents

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