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Dieser jährlich erscheinende Bericht gibt einen Überblick über die Entwicklungen und Aktivitäten am Engler-Bunte-Institut, der DVGW-Forschungsstelle am Engler-Bunte-Institut des KIT sowie der Forschungsstelle für Brandschutztechnik. Wie es auch in den vergangenen Jahren gehandhabt wurde, erscheinen die gasspezifischen Beiträge in gwf Gas + Energie (Teil 1: Ausgabe 6/2022, EBI ceb; Teil 2: Ausgabe 7-8/2022, EBI vbt) und der wasserspezifische Beitrag in gwf-Wasser | Abwasser (Teil 3: Ausgabe 6/2022, EBI WCT). Typischerweise steht die Entwicklung der verschiedenen Einrichtungen mit Beiträgen aus der universitären Lehre, der Aus- und Weiterbildung, über Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekte, über Beratung und Firmenkontakte im Fokus. Wie bereits im Jahr 2020 wirkte sich auch 2021 die Corona-Pandemie sehr weitreichend auf die Organisation der Forschungsarbeiten und die Lehre in den verschiedenen Studiengängen aus, in denen Lehrende vom Engler-Bunte-Institut eingebunden sind.

Microbial communities are responsible for biological wastewater treatment, but our knowledge of their diversity and function is still poor. Here, we sequence more than 5 million high-quality, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences from 740 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the world and use the sequences to construct the ‘MiDAS 4’ database. MiDAS 4 is an amplicon sequence variant resolved, full-length 16S rRNA gene reference database with a comprehensive taxonomy from domain to species level for all sequences. We use an independent dataset (269 WWTPs) to show that MiDAS 4, compared to commonly used universal reference databases, provides a better coverage for WWTP bacteria and an improved rate of genus and species level classification. Taking advantage of MiDAS 4, we carry out an amplicon-based, global-scale microbial community profiling of activated sludge plants using two common sets of primers targeting regions of the 16S rRNA gene, revealing how environmental conditions and biogeography shape the activated sludge microbiota. We also identify core and conditionally rare or abundant taxa, encompassing 966 genera and 1530 species that represent approximately 80% and 50% of the accumulated read abundance, respectively. Finally, we show that for well-studied functional guilds, such as nitrifiers or polyphosphate-accumulating organisms, the same genera are prevalent worldwide, with only a few abundant species in each genus.

This study aims to evaluate the application of ceramic ultrafiltration membranes in the crossflow mode for the separation of particles and oil in water emulsions (free oil droplets and micelles) from hydrothermal-liquefaction wastewater (HTL-WW) from the hydrothermal liquefaction of municipal sewage sludge. The experiments were carried out using one-channel TiO$_{2}$ membranes with pore sizes of 30, 10 and 5 nm. The results showed that the highest stable permeability could be achieved with a membrane-pore size of 10 nm, which experienced less fouling, especially through pore blockage, in comparison to the two other pore sizes. Instead of observing an increase in the permeability, the application of a higher feed temperature as well as backwash cycles led to a clear increase in irreversible fouling due to the presence of surfactants in the HTL-WW. Among several physical and chemical cleaning methods, alkaline cleaning at pH 12 proved to be the most efficient in removing fouling and maintaining stable performance on a long-term basis. Ceramic-membrane ultrafiltration can be considered as an adequate first-stage treatment of real HTL wastewater.

Microbial communities are responsible for biological wastewater treatment, but our knowledge of their diversity and function is still poor. Here, we sequence more than 5 million high-quality, full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences from 740 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) across the world and use the sequences to construct the ‘MiDAS 4’ database. MiDAS 4 is an amplicon sequence variant resolved, full-length 16S rRNA gene reference database with a comprehensive taxonomy from domain to species level for all sequences. We use an independent dataset (269 WWTPs) to show that MiDAS 4, compared to commonly used universal reference databases, provides a better coverage for WWTP bacteria and an improved rate of genus and species level classification. Taking advantage of MiDAS 4, we carry out an amplicon-based, global-scale microbial community profiling of activated sludge plants using two common sets of primers targeting regions of the 16S rRNA gene, revealing how environmental conditions and biogeography shape the activated sludge microbiota. We also identify core and conditionally rare or abundant taxa, encompassing 966 genera and 1530 species that represent approximately 80% and 50% of the accumulated read abundance, respectively. Finally, we show that for well-studied functional guilds, such as nitrifiers or polyphosphate-accumulating organisms, the same genera are prevalent worldwide, with only a few abundant species in each genus.

Background: Although causality remains to be established, targeting dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota by faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been proposed as a novel therapeutic option for treatment of extra-intestinal inflammatory diseases.1Objectives: In this proof-of-concept study, we evaluated efficacy and safety of FMT in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).2Methods: In this double-blind, parallel-group, sham-controlled, superiority trial, we randomly allocated (1:1) adults with active peripheral PsA (≥3 swollen joints) despite ongoing treatment with methotrexate to one gastroscopic-guided FMT or sham transplantation into the duodenum. The transplants (50 g faeces) came from one of four healthy, thoroughly screened, anonymous stool donors.3 The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of participants experiencing treatment failure (i.e., needing treatment intensification) through 26 weeks. The first key secondary endpoint was change in Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score from baseline to week 26. Safety was monitored throughout the trial. Trial registration number: NCT03058900, ClinicalTrials.gov.Results: Of 97 screened, 31 (32%) underwent randomisation (15 allocated to FMT), all received the assigned intervention, and 30 (97%) completed the 26-week clinical evaluation (Table 1). Treatment failure occurred more frequently in the FMT group than in the sham group (9 [60%] vs 3 [19%]; risk ratio, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.06 to 9.62; P=0.018). During the entire 26 weeks of observation, the rate of the treatment failures was significantly higher in the FMT than in the sham group, see figure 1. Improvement in HAQ-DI score differed between groups (0.07 vs 0.30) by 0.23 points (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.44; P=0.031) in favour of sham. No serious adverse events were observed.Conclusion: In this first interventional randomised controlled trial of FMT in immune-mediated arthritis, FMT was inferior to sham in treating active peripheral PsA. FMT did not appear to result in serious adverse events.

Here we have employed SynCon® design technology to construct a DNA vaccine expressing a pan-Spike immunogen (INO-4802) to induce broad immunity across SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC). Compared to WT and VOC-matched vaccines which showed reduced cross-neutralizing activity, INO-4802 induced potent neutralizing antibodies and T cell responses against WT as well as B.1.1.7, P.1, and B.1.351 VOCs in a murine model. In addition, a hamster challenge model demonstrated that INO-4802 conferred superior protection following intranasal B.1.351 challenge. Protection against weight loss associated with WT, B.1.1.7, P.1 and B.1.617.2 challenge was also demonstrated. Vaccinated hamsters showed enhanced humoral responses against VOC in a heterologous WT vaccine prime and INO-4802 boost setting. These results demonstrate the potential of the pan-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, INO-4802 to induce cross-reactive immune responses against emerging VOC as either a standalone vaccine, or as a potential boost for individuals previously immunized with WT-matched vaccines.