Prokaryotic community profiling of local algae wastewaters using advanced 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Abstract

Algae biomass-fed wastewaters are a promising source of lipid and bioenergy manufacture, revealing substantial end-product investment returns. However, wastewaters would contain lytic pathogens carrying drug resistance detrimental to algae yield and environmental safety. This study was conducted to simultaneously decipher through high-throughput advanced Illumina 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, the cultivable and uncultivable bacterial community profile found in a single sample that was directly recovered from the local wastewater systems. Samples were collected from two previously documented sources including anaerobically digested (AD) municipal wastewater and swine wastewater with algae namely Chlorella spp. in addition to control samples, swine wastewater, and municipal wastewater without algae. Results indicated the presence of a significant level of Bacteria in all samples with an average of approximately 95.49% followed by Archaea 2.34%, in local wastewaters designed for algae cultivation. Taxonomic genus identification indicated the presence of Calothrix, Pseudomonas, and Clostridium as the most prevalent strains in both local municipal and swine wastewater samples containing algae with an average of 17.37, 12.19, and 7.84%, respectively. Interestingly, swine wastewater without algae displayed the lowest level of Pseudomonas strains < 0.1%. The abundance of some Pseudomonas species in wastewaters containing algae indicates potential coexistence between these strains and algae microenvironment, suggesting further investigations. This finding was particularly relevant for the earlier documented adverse effects of some nosocomial Pseudomonas strains on algae growth and their multidrug resistance potential, requiring the development of targeted bioremediation with regard to the beneficial flora.

High-Throughput Detection of Bacterial Community and Its Drug-Resistance Profiling From Local Reclaimed Wastewater Plants

“…The Pseudomonas species were prevalent in the influent wastewater sample however the abundance was largely reduced in the effluent sample (Table 3). This result was in accordance with our previous study with municipal WW (Limayem et al, 2018). Genus Acinetobacter shares same phylum, class and order as Pseudomonas spp.…”

“…Typically, the conventional 16S rRNA gene sequencing for bacterial identification is a low resolution technique that have prevented comprehensive characterization and requires analysis of a substantial number of samples for isolating and culturing individual species (Ma et al, 2015). Moreover, this process demands intensive labor with significant capital and time investments (Limayem et al, 2018). Using a rapid and less laborious advanced multiplexing system, namely the high throughput Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing of the entire cultivable and uncultivable bacterial community can simultaneously be deciphered in one single sample (Limayem et al, 2018).…”

“…Moreover, this process demands intensive labor with significant capital and time investments (Limayem et al, 2018). Using a rapid and less laborious advanced multiplexing system, namely the high throughput Illumina 16S rRNA sequencing of the entire cultivable and uncultivable bacterial community can simultaneously be deciphered in one single sample (Limayem et al, 2018). The Illumina is an advanced, cost-effective, and less labor intensive tool with the capability to take a snapshot of extensive data under changing factors such as temperature.…”