Metabolic network analysis reveals microbial community interactions in anammox granules

• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15416
• Publication Date: 2017-05-31T12:10:18Z
• Authors: Christopher E. La...; Sha Wu; Ananda S. Bhattac...; Joshua J. Hamilton; Katherine D. McMahon; Ramesh Goel; Daniel R. Noguera
• Keywords: Anammox; Autotroph; Chloroflexi (class); Extracellular polymeric substance

Abstract Microbial communities mediating anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) represent one of the most energy-efficient environmental biotechnologies for nitrogen removal from wastewater. However, little is known about functional role heterotrophic bacteria play in anammox granules. Here, we use genome-centric metagenomics to recover 17 draft genomes and a laboratory-scale bioreactor. We combine metabolic network reconstruction with metatranscriptomics examine gene expression identify their potential interactions. find that Chlorobi-affiliated may be highly active protein degraders, catabolizing extracellular peptides while recycling nitrate nitrite. Other heterotrophs also contribute scavenging detritus produced by bacteria, potentially alternative electron donors, such as H 2 , acetate formate. Our findings improve understanding activities interactions between offer first transcriptional insights on ecosystem function