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Updated: May 16, 2026

Characterizing Microbiome Dynamics – Flow Cytometry Based Workflows from Pure Cultures to Natural Communities
Published on: July 12, 2018
[Analysis of microbial community structure at full-scale wastewater treatment plants by oxidation ditch]
Yun Guo1, Dian-hai Yang, Wen-jian Lu
1State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China. thisisyun@126.com
Abstract:
The microbial populations of the oxidation ditch process at the full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) in a city in north China were analyzed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Fractions structure varieties and distribution characteristics of Accumulibacter as potential phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs), and Competibacter as potential glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) were quantified. The results indicated that Accumulibacter comprised around 2.0% +/- 0.6%, 3.4% +/- 0.6% and 3.5% +/- 1.2% of the total biomass in the anaerobic tank, anoxic zone and zone, respectively, while the corresponding values for Competibacter were 25.3% +/- 8.7%, 30.3% +/- 7.1% and 24.4% +/- 6.1%. Lower Accumulibacter fractions were found compared with previous full-scale reports (7%-22%), indicating low phosphorus removal efficiency in the oxidation ditch system. Statistical analysis indicated that the amount of PAOs was significantly higher in the anoxic zone and the aerobic zone compared with that in the anaerobic tank, while GAOs remained at the same level.
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