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Anammox bacteria: from discovery to application.

J Gijs Kuenen¹

¹Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Julianalaan 67, 2628 BC, Delft, The Netherlands. j.g.kuenen@tudelft.nl

Nature Reviews. Microbiology

|March 15, 2008

Summary

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria convert ammonium and nitrite into nitrogen gas. These microbes significantly contribute to nitrogen loss in marine environments, impacting global nitrogen cycling.

Area of Science:

Environmental microbiology
Biogeochemical cycles

Background:

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria discovered in the 1990s.
Anammox bacteria possess a unique metabolic pathway converting ammonium and nitrite/nitrate to nitrogen gas.
Recognized as a major contributor to nitrogen loss in marine ecosystems, accounting for up to 50% of total nitrogen turnover.

Approach:

Historical review of the discovery and research timeline of anammox bacteria.
Elucidation of the biochemical mechanisms and ecological roles of anammox bacteria.
Exploration of the applications of anammox bacteria in environmental and industrial microbiology.

Key Points:

Anammox bacteria play a critical role in the global nitrogen cycle.
Their unique metabolism is key to understanding nitrogen loss in various environments.

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Research continues to uncover their full potential in bioremediation and wastewater treatment.

Conclusions:

The discovery of anammox bacteria revolutionized our understanding of marine nitrogen cycling.
Ongoing research highlights their significance in both natural ecosystems and biotechnological applications.
Anammox bacteria represent a vital area of study for environmental and industrial microbiology.