Investigation of an acetate-fed denitrifying microbial community by stable isotope probing, full-cycle rRNA analysis, and fluorescent in situ hybridization-microautoradiography

The acetate-utilizing microbial consortium in a full-scale activates sludge process is determined without prior enrichment using stable isotope probing (SIP), full-cycle rRNA analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)-microautoradiography. A combination of molecular methods have indicated that bacteria related to the genera Acidovorax, Dechloromonas and Thauera belonging to the families Comamonadaceae and Rhodocyclaceae are capable of utilizing acetate under anoxic conditions.