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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Process-dependent niches of rpf-harboring microorganisms regulate nitrogen and carbon functional networks in
Feng Dong1, Aiqin Hou1, Xuyan Hu2
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Digital Intelligence Monitoring and Restoration of Watershed Environment, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
Abstract:
Resuscitating viable but non-culturable (VBNC) microorganisms offers a strategy to unlock hidden metabolic capabilities, enhancing pollutant degradation and system stability in wastewater bioreactors. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying VBNC resuscitation in activated sludge, particularly the role of resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) gene-harboring microbial consortia, remain elusive. Here, metagenomic profiling of full-scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2/O) and oxidation ditch processes demonstrates the widespread distribution of rpf-harboring microorganisms in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A2/O systems enriched for taxa associated with denitrification and ammonification, while oxidation ditches showed higher abundance of microorganisms involved in nitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). The two processes configuration harbored distinct sets of rpf-carrying taxa, with Chloroflexota dominating in A2/O systems and Nitrospira and Kouleothrix in oxidation ditches. Network analysis further reveals that rpf-harboring taxa may act as ecological connectors between dormant and metabolically active populations, thereby enhancing community cohesion and resilience under fluctuating operational conditions. These findings uncover process-dependent resuscitation ecology shaping activated sludge communities and nutrient transformation pathways, providing a mechanistic foundation for engineering Rpf-mediated microbial interactions to improve biological wastewater treatment.
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