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Aeribacillus pallidus Inoculant Orchestrates Functional Microbial Succession for Enhanced Nitrogen Transformation in
Suhua Li1, Ming J Wu2, Qinhong Yang1
1College of Biological Science and Food Engineering, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China.
Microorganisms
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Introducing Aeribacillus pallidus to meat and bone meal (MBM) composting accelerates maturation and improves nitrogen retention. This microbial catalyst enhances total Kjeldahl nitrogen and nitrate levels, optimizing protein-dense waste valorization.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Meat and bone meal (MBM) composting faces challenges with significant nitrogen loss.
- Aeribacillus pallidus (A. pallidus) possesses genetic capabilities for proteolysis and nitrogen assimilation.
- Optimizing nitrogen recovery in MBM valorization requires innovative microbial strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of A. pallidus as a microbial catalyst for enhancing nitrogen retention during MBM composting.
- To understand the mechanisms by which A. pallidus influences the composting process and microbiome dynamics.
- To evaluate the impact of A. pallidus inoculation on MBM compost maturation and nitrogen recovery.
Main Methods:
- Genomic analysis of A. pallidus strain 60 to identify relevant functional genes.
- Laboratory-scale composting trials with and without A. pallidus inoculation.
- Monitoring of temperature, proteolytic activity, and nitrogen fractions (TKN, nitrate).
- Physicochemical and microbial community profiling using high-throughput sequencing.
Main Results:
- A. pallidus inoculation accelerated MBM compost maturation, indicated by a rapid thermal surge to 70 °C and enhanced proteolytic activity.
- Inoculation significantly improved nitrogen retention, increasing total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) by 10.87-13.33% and nitrate by 13.75-18.65% compared to controls.
- Microbial succession involved an initial enrichment of proteolytic genera followed by nitrifying bacteria (Pseudoxanthomonas), driven by inoculant-induced niche modification.
Conclusions:
- A. pallidus acts as a pioneer inoculant, effectively modulating the composting environment and driving functional microbiome assembly.
- This targeted strategy enhances nitrogen recovery and accelerates maturation in protein-dense waste valorization.
- The study provides a novel approach for optimizing MBM composting efficiency through microbial intervention.
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