Elucidation of Taste- and Odor-Producing Bacteria and Toxigenic Cyanobacteria in a Midwestern Drinking Water Supply Reservoir by Shotgun Metagenomic Analysis

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.01334-16
• Publication Date: 2016-06-26T06:02:12Z
• Authors: Timothy G. Otten; Jennifer L. Graham; Theodore D. Harris; Theo W. Dreher
• Keywords: Geosmin; Microcystis

ABSTRACT While commonplace in clinical settings, DNA-based assays for identification or enumeration of drinking water pathogens and other biological contaminants remain widely unadopted by the monitoring community. In this study, shotgun metagenomics was used to identify taste-and-odor producers toxin-producing cyanobacteria over a 2-year period reservoir. The sequencing data implicated several cyanobacteria, including Anabaena spp., Microcystis an unresolved member order Oscillatoriales as likely principal geosmin, microcystin, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), respectively. To further demonstrate this, quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting geosmin-producing microcystin-producing were utilized, these fitted using generalized linear models compared with routine data, microscopic cell counts, sonde-based physicochemical analyses, all inorganic organic nitrogen phosphorus forms fractions. qPCR explained greatest variation observed geosmin (adjusted R 2 = 0.71) microcystin 0.84) concentrations study period, highlighting their potential applications. origin monoterpene cyclase required MIB biosynthesis putatively linked periphytic cyanobacterial mat attached concrete inflow structure. We conclude that can be microbial agents involved quality deterioration guide assay selection design purposes. Finally, we offer estimates diversity metagenomic coverage our sets reference others wishing apply lacustrine systems. IMPORTANCE Cyanobacterial toxins compounds are growing concern utilities reliant upon surface resources. Specific microorganism(s) responsible degradation is often complicated presence co-occurring taxa capable producing undesirable metabolites. Here present framework how definitively problematic microorganisms development rapid genetic