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Desulfonema ishimotonii strain Tokyo 01T is a filamentous sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from a marine sediment. In this study, the genome of this strain was sequenced and analyzed with a focus on gene transfer from phylogenetically distant organisms. While the strain belongs to the class Deltaproteobacteria, hundreds of proteins encoded in the genome showed the highest sequence similarities to those of organisms outside of the class Deltaproteobacteria, suggesting that more than 20% of the genome is putatively of foreign origins. Many of these proteins had the highest sequence identities with proteins encoded in the genomes of filamentous bacteria, including giant sulfur oxidizers of the orders Thiotrichales, cyanobacteria of various genera, and uncultured bacteria of the candidate phylum KSB3. As mobile genetic elements transferred from phylogenetically distant organisms, putative inteins were identified in the GyrB and DnaE proteins encoded in the genome of strain Tokyo 01T. Genes involved in DNA recombination and repair were enriched in comparison to the closest relatives in the same family. Some of these genes were also related to those of organisms outside of the class Deltaproteobacteria, suggesting that they were acquired by horizontal gene transfer from diverse bacteria. The genomic data suggested significant genetic transfer among filamentous gliding bacteria in phylogenetically dispersed lineages including filamentous sulfate reducers. This study provides insights into the genomic evolution of filamentous bacteria belonging to diverse lineages, characterized by various physiological functions and different ecological roles.

A systemic strategy was proposed to improve aerobic granular sludge (AGS) stability and nitrogen (N) removal efficiency by optimizing feeding mode and substrate aiming at complicated wastewater characteristics. Key functional groups at the genus level identified by high-throughput sequencing were evaluated as well. The results showed that anaerobic feeding mode and acetate promoted the compact AGS formation with excellent total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency (averaging 91.7% ± 4.1%) at various dissolved oxygen conditions. While the aerobic feeding mode led to a loose AGS structure with a vulnerable anaerobic core and poor TN removal efficiency (averaging 58.8% ± 7.4%). Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process played the dominant role in N removal in compact AGS over the alternating nitrification and denitrification process. High-concentration glucose undermined feast–famine condition with filamentous bacteria growth out of granule and decreased TN removal efficiency to 67.3% ± 15.2%. Lower food to microorganism ratio may result in a lower N removal rate attributed to the sharply increased biomass concentration fed by glucose. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, and denitrifying phosphorus accumulation organisms enriched during AGS granulation also contributed to the efficient N removal. The proposed strategy provided insights into the relationship between various factors and stable AGS formation, and systemic operation methods for various complicated wastewater treatment.

Segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) are well known for their functions in the immunoregulation of hosts including the promotion of Th17 cell differentiation, B cell maturation, and immune system development. However, most analyses of SFB have focused on animal models, and thus, investigation of SFB prevalence in humans and their roles in human immunoregulation and health is needed. Although little is known overall of SFB prevalence in humans, they are characteristically abundant in animals during weaning. In this study, SFB-like bacteria were detected in ileal lavage samples from human children that were aged between 1 to 17 years old by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and their insertion into the mucosa was also observed. In addition, the expression of SFB flagellin at the human bacterial interface was observed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot. Moreover, two pairs of primers specific for SFB, but targeting different genes, were used to detect SFB in human intestinal lavage samples. These analyses indicated that SFB were present in over 50% of patient ileal samples independent of age. High-throughput gene sequencing indicated that different SFB strains were detected among samples. Between nine and 23 SFB flagellin gene operational taxonomic units were identified. In addition to evaluating the prevalence of SFB in human samples, correlations between SFB presence and chief complaints of clinical symptoms were evaluated, as well as the relationship between SFB and patient serum immunoglobulin concentrations. SFB prevalence was significantly higher in hematochezia patients (68%) than in abdominal pain (56.10%) and diarrhea (43.75%) patients. Furthermore, the concentrations of serum IgA, IgM, and IgE, were similar between SFB-positive and SFB-negative patient groups, although IgG concentrations were significantly higher in the SFB-negative group.

Psoriatic patients have altered microbiota, both in the intestine and on the skin. It is not clear, however, whether this is a cause or consequence of the disease. In this study, using an experimental mouse model of psoriasis induced by imiquimod (IMQ), we show that oral treatment with a broad spectrum of antibiotics (MIX) or metronidazole (MET) alone mitigates the severity of skin inflammation through downregulation of Th17 immune response in conventional mice. Since some antibiotics, including MET, can influence immune system reactivity, we also evaluated the effect of MIX in the same model under germ-free (GF) conditions. GF mice treated with MET did not show milder signs of imiquimod-induced skin inflammation (IISI) which supports the conclusion that the therapeutic effect is mediated by changes in microbiota composition. Moreover, compared to controls, mice treated with MIX had a significantly higher abundance of the genus Lactobacillus in the intestine and on the skin. Mice treated with MET had a significantly higher abundance of the genera Bifidobacterium and Enterococcus both on the skin and in the intestine and of Parabacteroides distasonis in the intestine. Additionally, GF mice and mice monocolonized with either Lactobacillus plantarum or segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) were more resistant to IISI than conventional mice. Interestingly, compared to GF mice, IMQ induced a higher degree of systemic Th17 activation in mice monocolonized with SFB but not with L. plantarum. The present findings provide evidence that intestinal and skin microbiota directly regulates IISI and emphasizes the importance of microbiota in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Filamentous bacteria belonging to the phylum Chloroflexi have received considerable attention in wastewater treatment systems for their suggested role in the operational problem of impaired sludge settleability known as bulking. Their consistently high abundance in full-scale systems, even in the absence of bulking, indicates that they make a substantial contribution to the nutrient transformations during wastewater treatment. In this study, extensive 16S rRNA amplicon surveys of Danish wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with nutrient removal were screened to identify numerically important Chloroflexi genera. Fluorescence in situ hybridization probes were designed for their in situ characterization. All abundant Chloroflexi phylotypes were putatively identified as facultative anaerobic chemoorganotrophs involved in sugar fermentation. They were all filamentous but differed in their morphology and spatial arrangement. 'Candidatus Villigracilis' was predominantly located within the activated sludge flocs, where they possibly have structural importance, and their abundance was relatively stable. Conversely, the abundance of 'Candidatus Amarolinea' was highly dynamic, relative to other genera, sometimes reaching abundances in excess of 30% of the biovolume, suggesting their likely role in bulking episodes. This study gives an important insight into the role of Chloroflexi in WWTPs, thus contributing to the broader goal of understanding the ecology of these biotechnologically important systems.

A promising solution for membrane fouling reduction in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) could be the adjustment of operating parameters of the MBR, such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), food/microorganisms (F/M) loading and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, aiming to modify the sludge morphology to the direction of improvement of the membrane filtration. In this work, these parameters were investigated in a step-aerating pilot MBR that treated municipal wastewater, in order to control the filamentous population. When F/M loading in the first aeration tank (AT1) was ≤0.65 ± 0.2 g COD/g MLSS/d at 20 ± 3 °C, DO = 2.5 ± 0.1 mg/L and HRT = 1.6 h, the filamentous bacteria were controlled effectively at a moderate filament index of 1.5–3. The moderate population of filamentous bacteria improved the membrane performance, leading to low transmembrane pressure (TMP) at values ≤ 2 kPa for a great period, while at the control MBR the TMP gradually increased reaching 14 kPa. Soluble microbial products (SMP), were also maintained at low concentrations, contributing additionally to the reduction of ΤΜP. Finally, the step-aerating MBR process and the selected imposed operating conditions of HRT, F/M and DO improved the MBR performance in terms of fouling control, facilitating its future wider application.

Biocake governs membrane fouling in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) and thorough understandings of its dynamics could aid in better fouling control. However, little is known about biocake dynamics in the AnMBRs, especially compared with the well-studied aerobic membrane bioreactors (AeMBRs). Hence, a comprehensive investigation on biocake dynamics of an AnMBR was conducted, simultaneously operating an AeMBR with identical conditions for comparisons. Observed by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) in 3D-mode, the biocakes of the AnMBR possessed smoother morphology and denser structure than those of the AeMBR regardless of fouling stages. Fluorescence staining of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) matrix of biocakes integrated with quantitative and chemical analyses illustrated that the dynamics of the biocake components in the AnMBR featured as a steady and progressive process but drastic in the AeMBR. The sequencing data similar to the SEM and CLSM observations showed that filamentous bacteria (i.e., the f_Anaerolineaceae) dominated in the AnMBR biocakes. In the AeMBR, the f_Microscillaceae prevailed in the biocakes and increased markedly from 24.38% to 36.67% after TMP jump. According to network analysis, microbial interactions were more positive but less intensive in the AnMBR compared with the AeMBR, which might mutually impact with the biocake dynamics. As the keystone taxa, the f_Anaerolineaceae and f_Microscillaceae had strong positive correlations with the variation of organic foulants in the biocakes of AnMBR and AeMBR, respectively, indicating their significant roles in the fouling evolution. Overall, this study provides new insights into the biocake dynamics in AnMBRs and facilitates to gain better understandings of differences in fouling evolutions between AnMBRs and AeMBRs.

A pilot-scale aerobic granular sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with domestic wastewater was operated to evaluate the effects of the low organic loading rate (OLR) due to wet weather flow conditions on simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal (SNDPR). As the OLR decreased from 0.85 to 0.43 kg COD m−3 d−1, the total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies decreased from 84.0% and 94.1% to 51.3% and 73.8%, respectively, the sludge volume index (SVI) increased from 42.3 to 85.5 mL g−1, and the average granular size decreased from 1022 to 742 μm; however, no sludge disintegration and biomass loss were observed. The poor nutrient removal efficiencies and settling ability were due to the shrinking anoxic zone and substrate scarcity inside the granules, wherein the activity decay of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and overgrowth of filamentous bacteria played an important role. Alternating the aeration intensity was effective in enhancing nitrogen removal and sludge settling by improving the anoxic activity in granules and inhibiting the proliferation of filamentous bacteria. Returning 20% of sludge from the end of one anaerobic stage to the beginning of the next anaerobic stage (midway sludge return) was beneficial for phosphorus removal as it improved phosphorus storage by phosphorus-accumulating bacteria. A smaller granular size with stronger stability and better nutrient removal performance was the new steady state of the SNDPR system under wet-weather flow conditions.

This study presents a novel strategy to accelerate the start-up of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) system and ensure the nutrient removal during cultivation. This new method consists of preparing the chitosan-based sludge aggregates outside the reactor and then seeding the reactor with such sludge aggregates. To prepare chitosan-based sludge aggregates, chitosan was dissolved in acetic acid solution acting as a cationic flocculant to bind negatively charged sludge together, and then the dissolved chitosan was in situ precipitated by readjusting pH to form stable sludge aggregates. The chitosan-induced charge neutralization and water-insolubility of chitosan were the two main reasons for the super-rapid formation of chitosan-based sludge aggregates. The as-prepared chitosan-based sludge aggregates had a much lower sludge volume index at 30 min (SVI30) (90.1 mL/g) than the original sludge (SVI30 = 328.0 mL/g). They also had some AGS-like characteristics such as large particle size (1300 μm) and fast settling velocity (23.8 m/h). Consequently, short settling time can be achieved and excessive biomass wash-out can be avoided in the rapid start-up of AGS system with chitosan-based sludge aggregates as inoculant, which was beneficial to accelerating sludge granulation while maintaining nutrient removal. Additionally, the abundances of filamentous bacteria and Candidatus Accumulibacter and the content of extracellular polymeric substances increased during cultivation, which could also contribute to the AGS formation. By seeding chitosan-based sludge aggregates in the anaerobic/oxic sequencing batch reactor, complete granulation was rapidly achieved in 10 days, and good removals of nitrogen and phosphorus was obtained after 14–18 days of cultivation.

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have been recognized as a promising method for many bioremediation and degradation processes. However, very few studies reported the spatiotemporal diffusion and degradation processes of pollutants in anodic scope, which is fundamentally and practically important for BES application. In this study, the spatiotemporal removal processes of acidic volatile sulfide (AVS) around the anodes of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) with different external resistances were investigated. The results showed that SMFC current generation caused significant gradients of different variables in anodic sediments. Removal efficiencies of AVS (REAVS) decreased with increased external resistance and distance from the anode. A mathematical prediction based on Fick’s second law suggested diffusion-governed REAVS in different layers within the first 15 days, but the availability of the predication decreased along with both time and distance. Microbial community analysis revealed that a sulfur-reducing microorganism Caldisericum and a fermentation microorganism Anaerolineaceae, both were filamentous, were enriched and became keystone species in SMFCs over time. Our study indicated that the sulfide diffusion dynamic and the filamentous keystone bacteria jointly governed the anodic scopes of SMFCs for sediment AVS removal, providing novel insight for understanding the sulfide removal process drive by solid electron acceptors.

The dominant filamentous bacteria associated with bulking incidents in Japanese activated sludge plants with nutrient removal were identified and their quantitative correlations with sludge settleability were assessed, with the aim of controlling bulking incidents by specifically suppressing bacterial growth. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses using existing oligonucleotide FISH probes indicated that the presence of Eikelboom type 1851 filamentous bacteria belonging to the phylum Chloroflexi is correlated with biomass settleability in the municipal wastewater treatment plants examined. Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays developed in this study also showed a linear correlation between type 1851 filament members and sludge settleability, with the exception of some winter samples. The real-time qPCR assays and 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon sequencing to reveal the microbial community of activated sludge showed that the abundance of type 1851 at 200 mL g−1 of sludge volume index was estimated to be about 1.9% of the total microbial cells. The abundance of type 1851 served as a bulking indicator in plants where type 1851 was dominant.

Chemical 'chain termination' probes were utilised for the investigation of thiotetronate antibiotic biosynthesis in the filamentous bacteria Lentzea sp. and Streptomyces thiolactonus NRRL 15439. The use of these tools led to the capture of biosynthetic intermediates involved in the thiotetronate polyketide backbone assembly, providing first insights into substrate specificity and in vivo intermediate processing by unusual iterative synthases.

A thermophilic aerobic membrane reactor (TAMR) treating high-strength COD liquid wastes was submitted to an integrated investigation, with the aim of characterizing the biomass and its rheological behaviour. These processes are still scarcely adopted, also because the knowledge of their biology as well as of the physical-chemical properties of the sludge needs to be improved. In this paper, samples of mixed liquor were taken from a TAMR and submitted to fluorescent in situ hybridization for the identification and quantification of main bacterial groups. Measurements were also targeted at flocs features, filamentous bacteria, and microfauna, in order to characterize the sludge. The studied rheological properties were selected as they influence significantly the performances of membrane bioreactors (MBR) and, in particular, of the TAMR systems that operate under thermophilic conditions (i.e., around 50°C) with high MLSS concentrations (up to 200 gTS L−1). The proper description of the rheological behaviour of sludge represents a useful and fundamental aspect that allows characterizing the hydrodynamics of sludge suspension devoted to the optimization of the related processes. Therefore, in this study, the effects on the sludge rheology produced by the biomass concentration, pH, temperature, and aeration were analysed.

In sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) treating dairy wastewaters, the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria is a frequent cause of operational problems. The present study aimed at understanding to what extent the operating conditions of a SBR can be optimized to convert a bulking activated sludge into a well-settling biomass at low aeration velocity. The abundance of filament morphotypes and floc-formers able to store biopolymers were analysed by PCR-DGGE and 16S amplicon sequencing. The results indicated that a combination of an anaerobic-microaerated feeding pattern with a low selective pressure was beneficial to supress filamentous overgrowth and to form aerobic granules, while increasing the efficiency of suspended solid removal. Average removal efficiencies for total chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were 94±2%, 95±1% and 83±13%, respectively.

Phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment plant is carried out by chemical precipitation, advanced biological treatment or a combination of both. One of the biggest problems with high concentration of phosphorus in water environment is eutrophication. Activated sludge flocs have a heterogeneous structure, which consist of a variety of microorganisms. Filamentous bacteria are normally present in the activated sludge and have ability to assimilation of phosphorus. In this study phosphorus accumulation by isolated filamentous bacteria from activated sludge foam was present.

NKT cells are unconventional T cells that respond to self and microbe-derived lipid and glycolipid Ags presented by the CD1d molecule. Invariant NKT (iNKT) cells influence immune responses in numerous diseases. Although only a few studies have examined their role during intestinal inflammation, it appears that iNKT cells protect from Th1-mediated inflammation but exacerbate Th2-mediated inflammation. Studies using iNKT cell–deficient mice and chemically induced dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis have led to inconsistent results. In this study, we show that CD1d-deficient mice, which lack all NKT cells, harbor an altered intestinal microbiota that is associated with exacerbated intestinal inflammation at steady-state and following DSS treatment. This altered microbiota, characterized by increased abundance of the bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres, and TM7, among which the mucin-eating Mucispirillum, as well as members of the genus Prevotella and segmented filamentous bacteria, was transmissible upon fecal transplant, along with the procolitogenic phenotype. Our results also demonstrate that this proinflammatory microbiota influences iNKT cell function upon activation during DSS colitis. Collectively, alterations of the microbiota have a major influence on colitis outcome and therefore have to be accounted for in such experimental settings and in studies focusing on iNKT cells.

Two experiments at different temperatures were conducted in five laboratory-scale bioreactors with enhanced nutrient removal simulating the work of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). The process was operated in three 8-hour cycles. The oxygen concentration, pH and temperature were controlled and maintained at 1 mg of O2/L, 7 and 13°C, respectively, throughout the first two weeks and at 20°C for the next 10 days. The introduction of Lecane tenuiseta improved the settling properties of the activated sludge dominated by Microthrix parvicella at both temperatures tested. L. tenuiseta rotifers led to a reduction in filamentous bacteria abundance and did not negatively affect the chemical parameters of the effluent. For each temperature, there were no differences in COD, Ntot, N-NH4 or P-PO4 values between the treatment and control bioreactors. The results have shown that the application of L. tenuiseta is a promising biological tool for bulking prevention especially in a cold season.

The distribution, composition and morphological structure of subvisible particles and colloids (0.01-10 μm) in the supernatant of a lab-scale submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR), and their role in membrane fouling, was investigated. Photometric analysis showed that the supernatant and membrane foulants were dominated by particles and colloids (0.45-10 μm), which accounted for over 90% of the total organics (proteins and polysaccharides). Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectra and monosaccharide analysis showed that these particles and colloids were rich in fluorescent proteins, rhamnose, ribose and arabinose, all of which could be related to cellular and extracellular substances. Fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of bacterial cells in/on the subvisible particles and colloids. The microparticles (5-10 μm) were primarily composed of Streptobacilli and/or filamentous bacteria in the form of microcolonies, while the submicrometer particles and colloids (1-5 μm and 100 kDa-1 μm) had more free/single cocci and bacilli. The ratio of live/dead cells varied in different size-fractions, and the particles (1-10 μm) contained more live cells compared with the colloids (100 kDa-1 μm). Our findings suggest that bacterial cells in/on the particles and colloids could have an important effect on fouling in SAnMBRs as they represent pioneering species attaching to membranes to form fouling layers/biofilm. Such insights reveal that previous foulant-characterization studies in MBRs tended to overestimate organic fouling, while the biofouling induced by these bacteria in/on the particles and colloids was overlooked.

The human microbiome consists of all microorganisms occupying the skin, mucous membranes and intestinal tract of the human body. The contact of the mucosal immune system with the human microbiome is a balanced interplay between defence mechanisms of the immune system and symbiotic or pathogenic microbial factors, such as microbial antigens and metabolites. In systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's syndrome, the immune system is deranged to a chronic inflammatory state and autoantibodies are an important hallmark. Specific bacteria and/or a dysbiosis in the human microbiome can lead to local mucosal inflammation and increased intestinal permeability. Proinflammatory lymphocytes and cytokines can spread to the systemic circulation and increase the risk of inflammation at distant anatomical sites, such as the joints or salivary glands. Increased intestinal permeability increases antigen exposure and the risk of autoantibody production. If the human microbiome indeed plays such a critical role in SADs, this finding holds a great promise for new therapeutic strategies, such as diet interventions and probiotics and prebiotics. This review provides a background on the human microbiome and mucosal immunity in the gut and oral cavity and gives a summary of the current knowledge on the microbiome-SADs connection.

The effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on the continuous-flow system with enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) granules at different COD loading was investigated during the operation of more than 220days. And the results showed that when the system operated at long SRT (30days) and low COD loading (200mg·L(-1)), it could maintain excellent performance. However, long SRT and high COD loading (300mg·L(-1)) deteriorated the settling ability of granules and the performance of system and resulted in the overgrowth of filamentous bacteria. Meanwhile, the transformation of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and glycogen in metabolism process was inhibited. Moreover, the results of pyrosequencing indicated that filamentous bacteria had a competitive advantage over polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) at high COD loading and long SRT. The PAOs specious of Candidatus_Accumlibater and system performance increased obviously when the SRT was reduced to 20days at high COD loading.

Benthic accumulations of filamentous, mat-forming bacteria occur throughout the oceans where bisulfide mingles with oxygen or nitrate, providing key but poorly quantified linkages between elemental cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Here we used the autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry to conduct a contiguous, 12.5 km photoimaging survey of sea-floor colonies of filamentous bacteria between 80 and 579 m water depth, spanning the continental shelf to the deep suboxic waters of the Santa Barbara Basin (SBB). The survey provided31 000 images and revealed contiguous, white-colored bacterial colonization coating∼80% of the ocean floor and spanning over 1.6 km, between 487 and 523 m water depth. Based on their localization within the stratified waters of the SBB we hypothesize a dynamic and annular biogeochemical zonation by which the bacteria capitalize on periodic flushing events to accumulate and utilize nitrate. Oceanographic time series data bracket the imaging survey and indicate rapid and contemporaneous nitrate loss, while autonomous capture of microbial communities from the benthic boundary layer concurrent with imaging provides possible identities for the responsible bacteria. Based on these observations we explore the ecological context of such mats and their possible importance in the nitrogen cycle of the SBB.

The human intestinal microbiota has profound effects on human physiology, including the development and maintenance of the host immune and metabolic systems. Under physiological conditions, the intestinal microbiota maintains a symbiotic relationship with the host. Abnormalities in the host-microbe relationship, however, have been implicated in multiple disorders such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), metabolic syndrome, and autoimmune diseases. There is a close correlation between dietary factors and the microbial composition in the gut. Long-term dietary habits influence the composition of the gut microbial community and consequently alter microbial metabolic activity. The diet-microbiota axis plays a vital role in the regulation of the host immune system, at least partly through altering microbial metabolism. In this review, we will describe the current findings regarding how dietary factors and microbial metabolites regulate the host immune system.

Commensal microbiota are critical for the development of local immune responses. In this article, we show that gut microbiota can regulate CD4 T cell polarization during pulmonary fungal infections. Vancomycin drinking water significantly decreased lung Th17 cell numbers during acute infection, demonstrating that Gram-positive commensals contribute to systemic inflammation. We next tested a role for RegIIIγ, an IL-22–inducible antimicrobial protein with specificity for Gram-positive bacteria. Following infection, increased accumulation of Th17 cells in the lungs of RegIIIγ−/− and Il22−/− mice was associated with intestinal segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) colonization. Although gastrointestinal delivery of rRegIIIγ decreased lung inflammatory gene expression and protected Il22−/− mice from weight loss during infection, it had no direct effect on SFB colonization, fungal clearance, or lung Th17 immunity. We further show that vancomycin only decreased lung IL-17 production in mice colonized with SFB. To determine the link between gut microbiota and lung immunity, serum-transfer experiments revealed that IL-1R ligands increase the accumulation of lung Th17 cells. These data suggest that intestinal microbiota, including SFB, can regulate pulmonary adaptive immune responses.

In this study, the biological removal of styrene (STR) and ethylbenzene (EB) was investigated and the effect of carriers on the membrane fouling (MF) and the performance of two MBRs (with and without carrier) were examined. The flocculation ability, sludge particle size distribution (PSD), FTIR analysis, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopic observations, microbial activities, microorganism population, filamentous bacteria, and sludge volume index (SVI) are considered to determine sludge characteristics. The results show that adding suitable dosage of carrier can reduce MF. It was also demonstrated that, biodegradation was the main mechanism for the STR in both reactors, especially MBR with the carrier. Besides, in the reactor with carriers the MF decreased and the flocculation ability increased while specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR), soluble microbial product (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) decreased. Moreover, it was found that the EPSP is the main reason for MF and EPS was not as the main factor of the floc. The result obtained in the FTIR spectrum and EEM florescence spectroscopy agreed well with the EPS contents in cake layer. Therefore advanced technology of EEM are useful to examine cake compositions.

Bulking and foaming phenomena in activated sludge wastewater treatment plants are in most cases related to the abundance of filamentous microorganisms. Quantifying these microorganisms should be a preliminary stage in their control. In this paper, the simplicity of quantifying them based on the intersection method is demonstrated, by redescribing the theory and applying a new improved protocol; new data of interest are also provided. The improved method allows us to use it with stained smears, including epifluorescence techniques. The error that could be made, when considering the distribution of filamentous bacteria in fresh microscope preparations in two dimensions rather than three is negligible. The effect of the different types of filamentous microorganisms on the settleability was also studied. The effect of the total extended filament length on the sludge settleability was shown to depend on the type of filamentous organism and how it aggregates. When these groups of filamentous organisms are found in small aggregations and there is an increase in the number of filamentous organisms, the sludge volume index (SVI) increases proportionally to the filament length. However, when aggregation increases, the impact on the SVI is significantly lower.

Rainbow trout gastroenteritis (RTGE) has been the cause of acute mortality in farmed rainbow trout in Europe since 1992. Epidemiological analysis has indicated a strong association with high production levels and suggested an infectious aetiology. The condition is characterised by the presence of large numbers of segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) in the intestine, but the role of these in the disease has not been confirmed, in part because the organisms cannot be cultured. Therefore, other approaches need to be developed to investigate the role of SFB in RTGE. Faecal material from clinically affected RTGE trout, either untreated or heat-inactivated, was administered to fish from a susceptible stock, to determine whether the SFB could be transferred artificially and survive in or colonise the new host. Using histology and nested PCR, SFB were detected in the pyloric caeca of fish 23 to 30 d after challenge with untreated faeces. Histological changes in the intestine and the presence of an unidentified Gram-negative coccus were also significantly associated with exposure to untreated faeces. Upregulation of IFN-γ, IL-17A/F and IL-22 gene expression in proximal intestine suggested a low-level immune response to the challenge.

Unusual large filamentous bacteria (LFB) have been found on the deep seafloor environments. They play a significant role in geochemical cycling in the dark environments. However, our knowledge of the spatial distribution and phylogenetic diversity of the LFB on the deep seafloor are still limited due to the inaccessibility to these environments. Here, we report the discovery of a novel LFB on a hydrothermally inactive sulfide chimney in a deep-sea hydrothermal field of the Southern Mariana Trough. Light and electron microscopic observation showed that the width and total length of the LFB were >8 µm and >100 µm, respectively, of which morphology was similar to that of other known LFB such as “cable bacteria” of the Desulfobulbaceae. Analyses of a 16S rRNA gene clone library and fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed that this LFB belongs to the Desulfobulbaceae. The 16S rRNA gene of the LFB showed 94% similarity to those of the reported cable bacteria and cultured deltaproteobacterial species, suggesting that the LFB is a novel cable bacterium of the Desulfobulbaceae. The novel LFB potentially play a role in sulfur cycling on sulfide chimneys at the hydrothermally ceasing or even ceased deep-sea hydrothermal fields.

BACKGROUND Clofibric acid (CLF), the main pharmacologically active metabolite of blood lipid regulating pharmaceutical clofibrat, etofibrat, etofyllinclofibrat is one of the most widely reported drugs found in water. It is hardly or not degraded by the conventional technology used in wastewater treatment plants. RESULTS Sixteen new filamentous bacteria belonging to genus Streptomyces spp. isolated from different Romanian soil samples and three strains from a collection of microorganisms (MIUG) were morphologically characterized, tested based on their resistance against clofibric acid toxicity and then investigated as bioremediation agents. Only five Streptomyces spp. isolates coded MIUG 4.88, MIUG 4.89, LP1, LP2, SNA, showed high CLF tolerance at most of the concentrations tested (0.2, 0.5, 1, 5, 8 mg L−1). CONCLUSION The data obtained showed that only the strain Streptomyces MIUG 4.89 presents promising potential for clofibric acid biodegradation, with an elimination yield of 35%, which was not reported for this class of bacteria to date. However, further research is needed for optimization of the CLF biodegradation conditions to enhance its bioremediation yield especially in polluted aquatic systems. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry

In this study, molecular community analysis and analytical measurements were combined to assess and compare the identity, functionality, structure, and temporal changes of membrane and conventional enhanced biological phosphorous removal systems (which ran stable over 300 days) and to identify the dynamics of the foam forming population. Magnesium was added to the system with the goal to enhance phosphate removal. Both systems behaved similarly with respect to phosphate and nitrogen removal efficiency and had similar community evenness, but they differed in community composition. A principle component analysis indicated that, the community of the membrane system changed permanently whereas the conventional system returned to approximately its initial composition. The relative intensity of DGGE bands were transformed in a numerical matrix and based on this matrix a model was constructed, which predicted some bands as foam forming bands, which were identified as foam-forming filamentous bacteria by sequencing.

Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) was cultivated in a bench scale sequencing batch reactor within 21 days. Strategy of the rapid startup was inoculated with part of mature AGS during cultivation, while aerobic biological selector was implemented for the inhibiting outgrowth of filamentous bacteria and fast selection of zoogloea bacteria. Then, the cultivated AGS was employed for the treatment of solvent recovery raffinate. Stable AGS was successfully domesticated after 55 days under strategy of gradually increase the proportion of real wastewater in influent. The domesticated AGS was orange, irregular shape, smooth and compact. SVI, SV 30 /SV 5 , MLVSS/MLSS, EPS, PN/PS, average particle size, granulation rate, (SOUR) H and (SOUR) N of AGS were 19.06 mL/g, 0.97, 0.55, 30.05 mg/g MLVSS, 1.10, 1.28 mm, 98.87%, 32.47 and 7.97 mg O 2 /h g VSS respectively. Finally, COD, TIN, NH 4 + –N and TP of the effluent were lower than 25.9 mg/L, 1.64 mg/L, 1.13 mg/L and 0.21 mg/L, and their removal rate was more than 98.43%, 97.12%, 98.02% and 98.09% respectively. Thus, COD, TP removal, nitrification and denitrification were realized in a single bioreactor. The result indicated that the feasibility of AGS for high C/N ratio industrial wastewater treatment.

Detailed understanding of the membrane application is essential for the treatment of wastewater to remove organic and inorganic pollutants. Even though the membrane bioreactor (MBR) has been widely used for the removal of oil and grease (O&G) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from wastewater, the use of MBR to remove the organic and inorganic pollutants from oilfield-produced water (OPW) needs to be verified. This study used two submerged MBRs to remove the COD, O&G, NH3 and PO43- pollutants from OPW by considering two variables of NaCl content and C/N/P ratio in the analysis of experimental data. The results show the use of the MBR system to remove COD, O&G and NH3 reaching at an efficiency of higher than 90%. The efficiency of the MBR system to remove PO43- increases by 14.95% for the treatment of OPW with salt content of 10 gNaCl L-1 and by 15.71% for that with salt content of 17.5 gNaCl L-1. Despite of the change in C/N/P ratio from 100/10/1 to 100/2/1 shows a decrease in the sludge volume index by 61.27% for the treatment of OPW with salt content of 10 gNaCl L-1 and by 61.43% for that with salt content of 17.5 gNaCl L-1, the occurrence of membrane fouling could be due to the growth of filamentous bacteria in OPW when conditioned with 17.5 gNaCl L-1. A valuable insight into the practical design of MBR technology can be obtained from this study to contribute to the future development of OPW treatment process.

Manganese biomineralization occurred readily on metal surfaces in a natural freshwater environment. SEM demonstration of actual bacterial participation was challenging due to the rapidity of biofilm growth and typical microbe-mineral agglomeration. By optimizing cathodic polarization, we slowed down the process so effectually as to document biomineralization by rod-shaped rather than by filamentous bacteria which occurred more frequently at open circuit.

Micro-granules structure, integrates different functional groups, leading to an effective, operational and compact alternative system for nutrient removal processes. Anammox process long start-up period, continues to be a major issue because of low bacterial growth rates and cellular yields, causing a shortage in providing sufficient amounts of anammox seed and operational limitations worldwide. In this study, fast start-up using micro-granular development of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) reactor was investigated to evaluate anammox activity, population dynamics and core community members, in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor seeded with municipal returned activated sludge (RAS). The micro-granular UASB reactor has been operated under steady-state conditions with average nitrogen loading rate of 0.22 KgN /m3/day and the average SRT of the reactor ranged from 36 to 72 days. The long-term operation performance showed nitrogen removal efficiencies of up to 95 ± 2.7%. The physicochemical analysis indicated that around 75% of the granules were in a size range of 253.2–465.7 μm, and the sludge volume index improved by 53 ± 0.2%. The anammox sludge activity was recovered within approximately 15 days, after 63 days of critical inhibition conditions. At steady-state reactor operation, the microbial analysis showed dominance of two major genera, “Candidatus Brocadia” and “Ca. Kuenenia” and an escalation in abundance of filamentous bacteria, Chloroflexi as a distinct indication of granulation process occurrence in microbial analysis level.

Though sludge foaming often occurs and thus causes serious membrane fouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs), the fouling mechanisms related with the foaming phenomenon have not been well addressed, hindering better understanding and solving foaming problem. In this work, it was interestingly found that, the foulants during the foaming period possessed extremely high specific filtration resistance (SFR) (over 1016 m kg−1) and strong adhesion ability to membrane surface. Chemical characterization showed that the proteins (178.57 mg/L) and polysaccharides (209.21 mg/L) in the foaming sample were about 6.4 times and 5.4 times of those in the supernatant sample, suggesting existence of a mechanism permitting continuous production of these foulants in the MBR during the foaming period. It was revealed that the fouling caused by foams was associated with gel layer filtration process, and the extremely high SFR can be interpreted by chemical potential change in the gel filtration process depicted in Flory-Huggins theory. Meanwhile, analyses by the extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory showed that the strong adhesion ability stemmed from the high interaction energy between the foaming foulants and membrane surface. In addition, 16S rDNA gene sequencing identified that the abundance of the foaming related bacteria species in the sludge suspension during the foaming period was more than 10 times of that during the non-foaming period. This study offered new mechanism insights into foaming fouling in MBRs.

Sludge bulking is an operational hurdle that affects the solid–liquid separation in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide. In this study, filamentous bulking issues were investigated in seven WWTPs located in South Africa using artificial neural network (ANN) and multivariate statistics. The microbial community belonging to sludge bulking was determined using staining and microscopic methods, with a further confirmed identification of selected species via fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Based on a filament index scale from 1 (None filament) to 7 (Excessive filament), the developed ANN could predict the sludge volume index (SVI) using the abundances of ten inputs of filamentous species. Eikelboom Type 0041 attained the highest impact on SVI, followed by Gordonia spp., Nostocoida limicola, and Thiothrix spp. Principal component analysis (PCA) combined with FISH images showed that most WWTPs experienced inadequate sludge settling properties; however, the application of an efficient aeration system (i.e., diffusion) in the three-stage Phoredox process improved the settling characteristics of bio-flocs. Operational conditions that caused filament overgrowth in each WWTP were also determined. The study outputs would provide a scientific basis to control the proliferation of filamentous bacteria in other WWTPs located in similar environmental conditions to South Africa.

The control of filamentous sludge bulking has been regarded as an important issue in the activated sludge process due to there is still a lack of understanding of the bulking mechanisms. In this study, changes in the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and metabolic profile of bulking sludge based on the proteomics level was investigated to reveal the potential role of EPS in deteriorating sludge floc stability and structure during filamentous bulking. The results showed that the EPS content gradually decreased from 210.23 mg/g volatile suspended solids (VSS) to 131.34 mg/g VSS during sludge bulking. The protein (PN) content of the EPS significantly decreased from 173.33 mg/g VSS to 95.42 mg/g VSS during sludge bulking. However, a gradual increase in polysaccharides (PS) was observed. Bacterial aggregation was hindered by the changes in the EPS and its components. The excessive proliferation of filamentous bacteria had a significant effect on the molecular functions of the extracellular PN and metabolic pathways of the EPS. The proteins associated with the hydrophobic amino acid synthesis decreased, whereas the proteins associated with the hydrophilic amino acid synthesis increased during sludge bulking. Electric repulsion was the key factor affecting the aggregation and flocculation ability of the bacteria during sludge bulking. The changes in the EPS and its components induced by the excessive proliferation of filamentous bacteria resulted in a loose floc structure and poor settling performance during sludge bulking. These findings provide new insights into sludge bulking during the activated sludge process.

The infection caused by drug-resistant pathogens, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, are major causes of mortality in the world. Diverse bioactive molecules isolated from microbial or plant sources are used for the ailment of such infections or disease conditions. Since a few years, a group of microorganisms named “rare actinomycetes” are more frequently unveiled as excellent sources of bioactive molecules. Nocardia spp. are important members of “rare actinobacteria” and characterized as the prominent microbial source for the isolation of diverse bioactive molecules with pharmaceutical values. Nocardia spp. are catalase positive, aerobic, and nonmotile Gram-positive filamentous bacteria. They contain high guanine plus cytosine (G+C) content in their genome. Nocardia have been studied for a long time, primarily for strain characterization and taxonomic classification of new isolates. Most species are reported as unusual causes of diverse clinical diseases in both humans and animals. Hence, most species are clinical isolates, whereas only few species have been isolated from common natural habitats, such as soil and water.

In addition to strengthening the physical mucosal barrier, the gut comprises the largest population of microflora that can boost both innate and adaptive immunity. Gut microbes exhibit immunosuppressive effects through induction of regulatory T cells and production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, especially interleukin-10. However, some microbes, such as segmented filamentous bacteria, are known to promote pro-inflammatory responses. Of note, both immunosuppressive and inflammatory effects can extend beyond the gut, even reaching the brain. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota accompanies or even precedes the development of immune-mediated disorders. Consequently, several consensus consider gut microbiota as a target for treatment of health problems ranging from asthma, allergies, infections, autoimmune disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, and cancer. Although evidence suggests a critical time frame for normal acquisition of gut microbiota, dietary factors serve as a promising target for manipulating the gut microbiota to boost the immune system at every stage of life.

This study investigated the chance to couple the conventional Oxic Settling Anaerobic (OSA) process with a thermic treatment at moderate temperature (35 °C). The maximum excess sludge reduction rate (80%) was achieved when the plant was operated under 3 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT). Compared with the conventional OSA system, the thermic treatment enabled a further improvement in excess sludge minimization of 35%. The observed yield coefficient decreased from 0.25 gTSS gCOD−1 to 0.10 gTSS gCOD−1 when the temperature in the anaerobic reactor was increased to 35 °C, despite the lower HRT (3 h vs 6 h). Moreover, the thermic treatment enabled the decrease of filamentous bacteria, thereby improving the sludge settling properties. The thermic treatment enhanced the destruction of extracellular polymeric substances and the increase of endogenous decay rate (from 0.64 d−1 to 1.16 d−1) that reduced the biomass active fraction (from 22% to 4%).

Targeted inactivation of bacteria using bacteriophages has been proposed in applications ranging from bioengineering and biofuel production to medical treatments. The ability to differentiate between desirable and undesirable organisms, such as in targeting filamentous bacteria in activated sludge, is a potential advantage over conventional disinfectants. Like conventional disinfectants, bacteriophages exhibit non-linear concentration-time (Ct) dynamics in achieving bacterial inactivation. However, there is currently no workable model for predicting these observed non-linear inactivation rates. This work considers an approach to predicting bacteriophage-induced inactivation rates by utilizing classical particle aggregation theory. Bacteriophage-bacteria interactions are represented as a two-step process of transport by Brownian motion, differential settling, and shear, followed by attachment. Modifying classical expressions for particle-particle aggregation to include bacterial growth, death, and bacteriophage reproduction, the model was calibrated and validated using literature data. The calibrated model captures much of the observed non-linearity in inactivation rates and reasonably predicts the final host concentration. This model was shown to be most useful in systems more likely to reflect an industrial setting, where the initial multiplicity of infection, or MOI (the ratio of bacteriophage to host organisms), was 1 or greater. For systems of an initial MOI of less than 1 the model showed increased sensitivity to changes in input parameters and a less pronounced ability to reasonably predict inactivation rates.

Polyaluminium chloride (PAC) was added into the biological phosphorus removal (BPR) systems to investigate the populations of polyphosphate and glycogen accumulating organisms (PAOs and GAOs). Typical BPR performed under Al:P of 1:1, while BPR almost disappeared at Al:P of 4:1. Even with high PAC addition, PAOs still existed in systems. Compared to the BPR with no PAC addition, the relative abundance of Accumulibacter, Tetrasphaera and Commnadaceae slightly increased with PAC addition. The relative abundance of Dechloromonas was improved from 0.87% to 3.82%, becoming the most dominant PAOs. The specific structures of Accumulibacter and Tetrasphaera changed little, but that of Dechloromonas and Comamonadaceae significantly altered. Regarding the GAOs, the relative abundance of Competibacter and Defluviicoccus significantly declined. Additionally, PAC addition effectively inhibited the proliferation of filamentous bacteria, indicating its potential in inhibiting the sludge filamentous bulking. This study provided guidance for the selection of the phosphorus removal process and operational conditions.

The positive roles of N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) have been widely acknowledged. However, it is not feasible to manipulate granulation via direct addition of AHL chemicals or AHL-producing strains. Here, several strains with high AHL-producing capacity were successfully isolated from AGS. These QS strains were cultivated, mixed as a consortium, and then divided into two groups: AHLs supernatant and bacterial cells encapsulated in sodium alginate (CEBs). The potential of QS regulation, via doses of AHLs supernatant and CEBs, in accelerating granulation was evaluated. Results clearly indicated that short-term (days 21–70) addition of AHLs supernatant led to a rapid specific growth rate (0.08 d−1), compact structure without filamentous bacteria overgrowth, excellent settlement performance (SVI10 37.2 mL/g), and a high integrity coefficient (4.4%) of the granules. Sustainable release of AHLs (mainly C6- and C8-HSL) was induced by exogenous AHLs, possibly attributed to the enrichment of the genera Aeromonas and Pseudomonas. Further, tryptophan and aromatic protein substances were produced to maintain structural stability, suggesting that short-term QS regulation had long-term positive effects on the characteristics of AGS. By comparison, the addition of CEBs posed negligible or negative impact on the granulation, as evidenced by the rupture of smaller aggregates and poor characteristics of AGS. Overall, augmentation of the signaling content via addition of AHLs supernatant from QS strains is an economical and feasible regulation strategy to accelerate granulation and sustain long-term structural stability.

Aerobic granulation is regarded as the future technology for wastewater treatment that can replace conventional activated sludge. In this study, two approaches of forming sulfolane degrading aerobic granules (SDAG) were successfully developed and evaluated. These include adaptation of pre-grown granules to sulfolane environment and coaggregation of pre-grown granules with bacterial culture native to sulfolane contaminated site. The adaption method required a longer period to form robust SDAG compared to coaggregation method where degradation of sulfolane was observed within 24 h. Electronic images revealed dominant filamentous bacteria on the surface of granules while DNA analysis unveiled the complexity of the dynamic change of microbial community during aerobic granule formation. The rate of sulfolane degradation by coaggregated granules reduced as the concentration of carbon source increased, nevertheless, the rate increased with increased biomass. In addition, the presence of co-contaminants can slightly impact the ability of newly cultivated granules to degrade sulfolane. Finally, the stability and settleability of the new aerobic granules was investigated under different environmental conditions. About 30% of the aerobic granules were lost after 14 d of operation without any continuous supply of carbon sources. The surviving SDAGs continued to display an intact structure coupled with good settleability.

Fossil filamentous and non-filamentous bacteria are reported from the Upper Jurassic limestones of the Raptawicka Turnia Limestone Formation in the Maly Giewont sections of the Western Tatra Mountains (Poland). The filamentous bacteria are subdivided into five groups: thin uniseriate, large multi-cell, large spiral, tapering and branched forms. The thin uniseriate filaments are the main microbial component of the peloids and micro-oncoids from the studied formation, mainly in the Upper Kimmeridgian–Tithonian limestones. The presence of the heterocyte-like terminal cells suggests their interpretation as cyanobacteria similar to the modern order Nostocales and perhaps to the family Nostocaceae. The large multi-cell and tapering filaments are uncommon in the studied limestones. The branched filaments found in the Tithonian limestones, although thinner, probably also may be compared with some modern representatives of the order Nostocales. Non-filamentous fossil bacteria found in the studied limestones consist of rod-shaped bacilli, monotrichous bacilli and spirilla; they belong mainly to the phylum Proteobacteria. Some microborings observed in the microfossils occurring in the micro-oncoids remind the ichnotaxon Scolecia filosa Radtke known to be of wide palaeobathymetric range. The thinnest microborings resemble another group of ichnofossils named “Pygmy form”, probably also of bacterial origin. The Upper Kimmeridgian–Tithonian micro-oncoids were formed mainly by filamentous bacteria (Cyanobacteria) that overgrew successively their nuclei with a few to several laminae. Frequent occurrence of pelagic microfossils as nuclei of micro-oncoids does not match a transport of these coated grains from much shallower sedimentary environments. The fossil filamentous bacteria filling up the peloids and micro-oncoids could be adapted to conditions that existed in the sublittoral zone below the wave base.

Rotavirus (RV) encounters intestinal epithelial cells amidst diverse microbiota, opening possibilities of microbes influencing RV infection. Although RV clearance typically requires adaptive immunity, we unintentionally generated RV-resistant immunodeficient mice, which, we hypothesized, reflected select microbes protecting against RV. Accordingly, such RV resistance was transferred by co-housing and fecal transplant. RV-protecting microbiota were interrogated by heat, filtration, and antimicrobial agents, followed by limiting dilution transplant to germ-free mice and microbiome analysis. This approach revealed that segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) were sufficient to protect mice against RV infection and associated diarrhea. Such protection was independent of previously defined RV-impeding factors, including interferon, IL-17, and IL-22. Colonization of the ileum by SFB induced changes in host gene expression and accelerated epithelial cell turnover. Incubation of RV with SFB-containing feces reduced infectivity in vitro, suggesting direct neutralization of RV. Thus, independent of immune cells, SFB confer protection against certain enteric viral infections and associated diarrheal disease.

CD4 T cells differentiate into RORγt/IL-17A-expressing cells in the small intestine following colonization by segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB). However, it remains unclear whether SFB-specific CD4 T cells can differentiate directly from naïve precursors, and whether their effector differentiation is solely directed towards the Th17 lineage. In this study, we used adoptive T cell transfer experiments and showed that naïve CD4 T cells can migrate to the small intestinal lamina propria (sLP) and differentiate into effector T cells that synthesize IL-17A in response to SFB colonization. Using single cell RT-PCR analysis, we showed that the progenies of SFB responding T cells are not uniform but composed of transcriptionally divergent populations including Th1, Th17 and follicular helper T cells. We further confirmed this finding using in vitro culture of SFB specific intestinal CD4 T cells in the presence of cognate antigens, which also generated heterogeneous population with similar features. Collectively, these findings indicate that a single species of intestinal bacteria can generate a divergent population of antigen-specific effector CD4 T cells, rather than it provides a cytokine milieu for the development of a particular effector T cell subset.

To assess the stability of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) under nitrogen deficiency conditions, three sequence batch reactors were operated with chemical oxygen demand (COD) to nitrogen (N) ratios of 100/5, 100/2.5, and 100/2, while COD concentration was kept consistent. AGS variations in its physicochemical characteristics, microbial community, and treatment performance were investigated. The results indicated that good treatment performance and stable AGS were achieved under nitrogen deficiency. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) regulating mechanism preserved AGS stability under nitrogen deficiency, especially through increased secretion of polysaccharide. In addition, members of the Anaerolineaceae were the major filamentous bacteria, which are strictly anaerobic organism, providing a possible explanation to the lack of filamentous bacteria outgrowth under N deficient condition. Insights from this study could help lower chemical costs in AGS applications for specific industrial wastewater treatments.