Are some putative glycogen accumulating organisms (GAO) in anaerobic : aerobic activated sludge systems members of the α-Proteobacteria?

DOI Web Site 4 Citations
  • Michael Beer
    Biotechnology Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia
  • Yun H. Kong
    Biotechnology Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia
  • Robert J. Seviour
    Biotechnology Research Centre, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia

Abstract

<jats:p>Activated sludge plants designed to remove phosphorus microbiologically often perform unreliably. One suggestion is that the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO) are out-competed for substrates by another group of bacteria, the glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO) in the anaerobic zones of these processes. This study used fluorescence <jats:italic>in situ</jats:italic> hybridization (FISH) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to analyse the communities from laboratory-scale anaerobic : aerobic sequencing batch reactors. Members of the genus <jats:italic>Sphingomonas</jats:italic> in the <jats:italic>α</jats:italic>-<jats:italic>Proteobacteria</jats:italic> were present in large numbers in communities with poor phosphorus removal capacity where the biomass had a high glycogen content. Their ability to store poly-<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>-hydroxyalkanoates anaerobically, but not aerobically, and not accumulate polyphosphate aerobically is consistent with these organisms behaving as GAO there. No evidence was found to support an important role for the <jats:italic>γ</jats:italic>-<jats:italic>Proteobacteria</jats:italic> as possible GAO in these communities, although these bacterial populations have been considered in other studies to act as possible competitors for the PAO.</jats:p>

Journal

  • Microbiology

    Microbiology 150 (7), 2267-2275, 2004-07-01

    Microbiology Society

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