Trego, A. C., Morabito, C., Mills, S., Connelly, S. , Bourven, I., Guibaud, G., Quince, C., Ijaz, U. Z. and Collins, G. (2018) Diversity converges during community assembly in methanogenic granules, suggesting a biofilm life-cycle. bioRxiv, (doi: 10.1101/484642) (Submitted)
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Abstract
Anaerobic biological decomposition of organic matter is ubiquitous in Nature wherever anaerobic environments prevail, and is catalysed by hydrolytic, fermentative, acetogenic, methanogenic, and various other groups, including syntrophic bacteria. It is also harnessed in innovative ways in engineered systems that may rely on small (0.1-4.0 mm), spherical, anaerobic granules, which we have found to be highly-replicated, whole-ecosystems harbouring the entire community necessary to mineralise complex organics. We hypothesised distinct granule sizes correspond to stages in a biofilm life-cycle, in which small granules are ‘young’ and larger ones are ‘old’. Here, granules were separated into 10 size fractions used for physico-chemical and ecological characterisation. Gradients of volatile solids, density, settleability, biofilm morphology, methanogenic activity, and EPS profiles were observed across size fractions. Sequencing of 16S rRNA genes indicated linear convergence of diversity during community assembly as granules increased in size. A total of 155 discriminant OTUs were identified, and correlated strongly with physico-chemical parameters. Community assembly across sizes was influenced by a niche effect, whereby Euryarchaeota dominated a core microbiome presumably as granules became more anaerobic. The findings indicate opportunities for precision management of environmental biotechnologies, and the potential of aggregates as playgrounds to study assembly and succession in whole microbiomes.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Submitted |
| Refereed: | No |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Collins, Dr Gavin and Quince, Dr Christopher and Ijaz, Dr Umer and Connelly, Dr Stephanie |
| Authors: | Trego, A. C., Morabito, C., Mills, S., Connelly, S., Bourven, I., Guibaud, G., Quince, C., Ijaz, U. Z., and Collins, G. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Infrastructure and Environment |
| Journal Name: | bioRxiv |
| Publisher: | Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2018 The Authors |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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