Co-existence of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a bioreactor
Author Information
Author(s): Dar Shabir A., Stams Alfons J. M., Kuenen J. Gijs, Muyzer Gerard
Primary Institution: Delft University of Technology
Hypothesis
Can physiologically similar sulfate-reducing bacteria co-exist in a bioreactor treating sulfate-rich wastewater?
Conclusion
The study found that two strains of sulfate-reducing bacteria can co-exist in a bioreactor by occupying distinct ecological niches.
Supporting Evidence
- The reactor achieved a sulfate removal efficiency of over 93%.
- Two dominant strains, Desulfovibrio L3 and L7, represented a significant portion of the SRB community.
- Both strains utilized ethanol and lactate as electron donors.
- Genetic analysis revealed low diversity among the isolated strains.
Takeaway
This study shows that different types of bacteria can live together in the same place by using different food sources.
Methodology
A combination of culture-dependent and independent methods was used to study the co-existence of sulfate-reducing bacteria in a bioreactor.
Potential Biases
Potential biases associated with culture-based enumeration techniques might have underestimated the overall SRB population diversity.
Limitations
The study may have underestimated the overall diversity of sulfate-reducing bacteria due to potential biases in culture-based techniques.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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