The use of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) probe technology for the characterization of complex microbial communities is reviewed and illustrated by discussing the results of a long-term study of four anaerobic fixed-bed biofilm reactors. Two distinct approaches were used to characterize the microbial community structure in these biofilm reactors. The first used a collection of phylogenetically defined oligonucleotide rRNA probes for methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) to quantify their populations. Population abundance was linked to the functional behavior of the biofilm reactor community by determining the effluent concentrations of the substrates, intermediates, and final products of microbial metabolism. This analysis indicated that the presence of SRB (especially Desulfovibrio-species) was not dependent upon the presence of sulfate. Methanobacteriales-species were the major competitors for hydrogen with these SRB in the absence of sulfate. The second approach involved selective amplification, cloning, sequencing, and whole cell hybridization to identify, visualize, and isolate a biofilm community member (strain PT-2). Subsequently, it was determined that the growth rate of strain PT-2 was significantly higher in young biofilms than in established biofilms.
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Research Article|
January 01 1995
Use of ribosomal RNA-based molecular probes for characterization of complex microbial communities in anaerobic biofilms
Lutgarde Raskin;
Lutgarde Raskin
*University of Illinois, Department of Civil Engineering, 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Laboratory, 205 N. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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Rudolf I. Amann;
Rudolf I. Amann
**University of Illinois, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Medicine Basic Science Building, 2001 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
†Current address: Technische Universität München, Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiology, D-80290 München, Germany
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Lars K. Poulsen;
Lars K. Poulsen
**University of Illinois, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Medicine Basic Science Building, 2001 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
‡Current address: The Technical University of Denmark, Department of Microbiology, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
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Bruce E. Rittmann;
Bruce E. Rittmann
***Northwestern University, Department of Civil Engineering, Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3109, USA
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David A. Stahl
David A. Stahl
**University of Illinois, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Veterinary Medicine Basic Science Building, 2001 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
§Current address: Northwestern University, Department of Civil Engineering, Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-3109, USA
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Water Sci Technol (1995) 31 (1): 261–272.
Citation
Lutgarde Raskin, Rudolf I. Amann, Lars K. Poulsen, Bruce E. Rittmann, David A. Stahl; Use of ribosomal RNA-based molecular probes for characterization of complex microbial communities in anaerobic biofilms. Water Sci Technol 1 January 1995; 31 (1): 261–272. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0057
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Lutgarde Raskin, Rudolf I. Amann, Lars K. Poulsen, Bruce E. Rittmann, David A. Stahl; Use of ribosomal RNA-based molecular probes for characterization of complex microbial communities in anaerobic biofilms. Water Sci Technol 1 January 1995; 31 (1): 261–272. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1995.0057
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