Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Triggers for microbial aggregation in activated sludge?

  • Mini-Review
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Microbial aggregation into good settling sludge is essential for the well-functioning of activated sludge systems treating waste water. Complete aggregation of all the microbial biomass formed has been proven to be difficult to maintain continuously, resulting in wash-out of suspended solids. This review investigates the possibility that environmental signals could constitute triggers for the induction or stimulation of aggregative physiology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson KL, Salyers AA (1989a) Biochemical evidence that starch breakdown by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron involves outer membrane starch-binding sites and periplasmic starch-degrading enzymes. J Bacteriol 171: 3192–3198

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson KL, Salyers AA (1989b) Genetic evidence that outer membrane binding of starch is required for starch utilization by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. J Bacteriol 171: 3199–3204

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersson A, Larson U, Hagström A (1986) Size-selective grazing by a microflagellate on pelagic bacteria. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 33: 51–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anwar H, Strap JL. Costerton JW (1992) Establishment of aging biofilms: possible mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial therapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 36: 1347–1351

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnqvist A, Olsén A, Pfeifer J, Russel DG, Normark S (1992) The Crl proteins activate cryptic genes for curli formation and fibronectin binding in Escherichia coli. Mol Microbiol 6: 2443–2452

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barlett DH, Wright ME, Silverman M (1988) Variable expression of extracellular polysaccharide in the marine bacterium Pseudomonas atlantica is controlled by genome rearrangement. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 85: 3923–3927

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Béguin P (1990) Molecular biology of cellulose degradation. Annu Rev Microbiol 44: 219–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berthouex PM, Fan R (1986) Evaluation of treatment plant performance: causes, frequency, and duration of upsets. J Water Pollut Control Fed 58: 368–375

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brown MJ, Lester JN (1979) Metal removal in activated sludge: the role of bacterial extracellular polymers. Water Res 13: 817–837

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calleja GB (1987) Cell aggregation, In: Rose AH, Harrison JS (eds) The yeasts, vol 2, 2nd edn. Academic, London, pp 165–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiesa SC, Irvine RL, Manning JF (1985) Feast/famine growth environments and activated sludge population selection. Biotechnol Bioeng 27: 562–569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corzo J, Léon-Barrios M, Hernando-Rico V, Gutierrez-Navarro AM (1994) Precipitation of metallic cations by the acidic cxopolysaccharides from Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium (Chamaecytisus) strain BGA-1. Appl Environ Microbiol 60: 4531–4536

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costerton JW, Cheng K-J, Geesey GG, Ladd TI, Nickel JC, Dasgupta M, Marrie TJ (1987) Bacterial biofilms in nature and disease. Annu Rev Microbiol 41: 435–464

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton HH, Poulsen LK, Halasz ML, Angles AE, Goodman AE, Marshall KC (1994) Substratum-induced morphological changes in marine bactrium and their relevance to biofilm structure. J Bacteriol 176: 6900–6906

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davies D, Chakarbarty A, Geesay G (1993) Exopolysaccharides production in biofilms: substrate activation of alginate gene expression by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Environ Microbiol 59: 1181–1186

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson MP, Humphrey BA, Marshall KC (1981) Adhesion, a tactic in the survival strategy of a marine vibrio during starvation. Curr Microbiol 6: 195–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Felix DR, Ljungdahl LG (1993) The cellulosome: the exocellular organelle of Clostridium. Annu Rev Microbiol 47: 791–819

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gancedo JM (1992) Carbon catabolite repression in yeast. Eur J Biochem 206: 297–313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Geddie JL, Sutherland IL (1993) Uptake of metals by bacterial polysaccharides. J Appl Bacteriol 74: 467–472

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giwercman B, Jensen ET, Haiby N, Kharazmi A, Costerton JW (1991) Induction of β-lactamase production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 35: 1008–1010

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Haandel AC, Lettinga G (1994) Anaerobic sewage treatment: a practical guide for regions with a hot climate. Wiley, New York, p 225

    Google Scholar 

  • Hantula J, Bamford DH (1991) The efficiency of the protein-dependent flocculation of Flavobacterium sp is sensitive to the composition of growth medium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 36: 100–104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Herman DC, Costerton JW (1993) Starvation-survival of a p-nitrophenol-degrading bacterium. Appl Environ Microbiol 59: 340–343

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horan NJ (1991) Biological wastewater treatment systems: theory and operation John Wiley, New York p 310

    Google Scholar 

  • James GA, Korber DR, Caldwell DE, Costerton JW (1995) Digital image analysis of growth and starvation responses of a surface-colonising Acinetobacter sp. J Bacteriol 177: 907–915

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjelleberg S, Hermansson M (1984) Starvation-induced effects on bacterial surface characteristics. Appl Environ Microbiol 48: 497–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Kjelleberg S, Hermansson M, Mardén P, Jones GW (1987) The transient phase between growth and nongrowth of heterotrophic bacteria, with emphasis on the marine environment. Annu Rev Microbiol 41: 25–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Logan BE, Hunt JR (1988) Bioflocculation as a microbial response to substrate limitations. Biotechnol Bioeng 31: 91–101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Macleod FA, Lappin-Scott HM, Costerton JW (1988) Plugging of a model rock system by using starved bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 54: 1365–1372

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall KC, Goodman AE (1994) Effects of adhesion on microbial cell physiology. Colloids Surfaces B Biointerfaces 2: 1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masduki A, Nakamura J, Ohga T, Umezaki R, Kato J, Ohtake H (1995) Isolation and characterisation of chemotaxis mutants and genes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Bacteriol 177: 948–952

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McFeters GA, Egli T, Wilberg E, Adler A, Schneider R, Snozzi M, Giger W (1990) Activity and adaptation of nitrilotriacetate (NTA)-degrading bacteria: field and laboratory studies. Water Res 24: 875–881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery MT, Kirchman DL (1994) Induction of chitinbinding proteins during the specific attachment of the marine bacterium Vibiro harveyi to chitin. Appl Environ Microbiol 60: 4284–4288

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olsén A, Jonssen A, Normark S (1989) Fibronectin binding mediated by a novel class of surface organelles on Escherichia coli. Nature 338: 652–655

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkinson JS (1978) Complementation analysis and deletion mapping of Escherichia coli mutants defective in chemotaxis. J Bacteriol 135: 45–53

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Plude JL, Parker DL, Schommer OJ, Timmerman RJ, Hagstrom SA, Joers JJ, Hnasko R (1991) Chemical characterisation of polysaccharides from the slime layer of the cyanobacterium Microcystis flos-aqua C3-40. Appl Environ Microbiol 57: 1696–1700

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rainey PB, Moxon ER, Thompson IP (1993) Intraclonal polymorphism in bacteria Adv Microb Ecol 13: 263–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudd T, Steritt RM, Lester JM (1984) Complexation of heavy metals by extracellular polymers in the activated sludge process. J Water Pollut Control Fed 56: 1260–1268

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saier MH (1989) Protein phosphorylation and allosteric control of inducer exclusion and catabolite repression by the bacterial phosphoenolpyruvate: sugar phosphotransferase system. Microbial Rev 53: 109–120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sezgin M, Jenkins D, Parker DS (1978) A unified theory of filamentous activated sludge bulking. J Water Pollut Control Fed 50: 362–387

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shikano S, Luckenbill LS, Kurihara Y (1990) Changes of traits in a bacterial population associated with protozoal predation. Microb Ecol 20: 75–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stock JB, Stock AM, Mottonen JM (1990) Signal transduction in bacteria. Nature 344: 395–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stock JB, Lukat GS, Stock AM (1991) Bacterial chemotaxis and the molecular logic of intracellular signal transduction networks. Annu Rev Biophys Chem 20: 109–136

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thevelein JM, Hohmann S (1995) Trehalose synthase, guard to the gate of glycolysis in yeast. Trends Biochem Sci 20: 3–10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Urbain V, Block JC, Manem J (1993) Bioflocculation in activated sludge: an analytical approach. Water Res 27: 829–838

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Loosdrecht NCM, Lyklema J, Norde W, Zehnder AJB (1990) Influence of interfaces on microbial activity. Microbiol Rev 54: 75–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Verstraete W, Van Vaerenbergh E (1986) Aerobic activated sludge. In: Rehm HJ, Reed G (eds) Biotechnology, vol 8. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim pp 44–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Vickerman MM, Clewell DB, Jones GW (1991) Ecological implications of glysosyl transferase phase variation in Streptococcus gordonii. Appl Environ Microbiol 57: 3648–3651

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wallace WH, Fleming JT, White DC, Sayler GS (1994) An algD-bioluminescent reporter plasmid to monitor alginate production in biofilms. Microb Ecol 27: 225–239

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Warne SR, Varley JM, Boulnois GJ, Norton MG (1990) Identification and characterisation of a gene that controls colony morphology and auto-aggregation in Escherichia coli K12. J Gen Microbiol 136: 455–462

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wrangstadh M, Conway P, Kjelleberg S (1986) The production and release of an extracellular polysaccharide during starvation of a marine Pseudomonas sp and the effect thereof on the adhesion. Arch Microbiol 145: 220–227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wrangstadh M, Conway P, Kjelleberg S (1989) The role of an extracellular polysaccharide produced by the marine Pseudomonas sp S9 in cellular detachment during starvation. Can J Microbiol 35: 309–312

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bossier, P., Verstraete, W. Triggers for microbial aggregation in activated sludge?. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 45, 1–6 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050640

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002530050640

Keywords

Navigation