High-throughput assays to identify archaea-targeting nitrification inhibitors

Area of Science:

• Environmental Microbiology
• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Nitrification, a key microbial process converting ammonia to nitrate, is vital for nitrogen cycling in agriculture.
• Current nitrification inhibitors primarily target bacteria, neglecting ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), which can significantly contribute to nitrification.
• The lack of AOA-specific inhibitors limits fertilizer use efficiency and contributes to environmental issues like nitrogen pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel, miniaturized assays for high-throughput screening of nitrification inhibitors targeting AOA.
• To provide detailed protocols for these assays, facilitating the discovery of new AOA-inhibiting compounds.
• To support the development of more effective nitrification inhibitors for sustainable agricultural practices.

Main Methods:

• Development of two miniaturized nitrification inhibition assays.
• Utilized an AOA-enriched nitrifying community and the AOA *Nitrososphaera viennensis* in the assays.
• Assays designed for high-throughput screening of potential AOA-targeting nitrification inhibitors.

Main Results:

• Successfully developed and validated two miniaturized assays for AOA nitrification inhibition.
• The assays enable efficient screening of numerous candidate inhibitors.
• Detailed protocols are provided for reproducible application in research.

Conclusions:

• The developed assays are instrumental in discovering novel AOA-targeting nitrification inhibitors.
• These inhibitors can complement existing bacterial inhibitors, enhancing overall nitrification control.
• Advancements in AOA inhibition contribute to improved fertilizer use efficiency and more sustainable agriculture.