Publications by Colleges and Departments (MSU - Bozeman)
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Item Treatment performance and microbial community structure in an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor amended with diclofenac, erythromycin, and gemfibrozil(Frontiers Media SA, 2023-09) Bodle, Kylie B.; Mueller, Rebecca C.; Pernat, Madeline R.; Kirkland, Catherine M.This study characterizes the effects of three commonly detected pharmaceuticals—diclofenac, erythromycin, and gemfibrozil—on aerobic granular sludge. Approximately 150 µg/L of each pharmaceutical was fed in the influent to a sequencing batch reactor for 80 days, and the performance of the test reactor was compared with that of a control reactor. Wastewater treatment efficacy in the test reactor dropped by approximately 30-40%, and ammonia oxidation was particularly inhibited. The relative abundance of active Rhodocyclaceae, Nitrosomonadaceae, and Nitrospiraceae families declined throughout exposure, likely explaining reductions in wastewater treatment performance. Pharmaceuticals were temporarily removed in the first 12 days of the test via both sorption and degradation; both removal processes declined sharply thereafter. This study demonstrates that aerobic granular sludge may successfully remove pharmaceuticals in the short term, but long-term tests are necessary to confirm if pharmaceutical removal is sustainable.Item Isolation and Characterization of Lignocellulose-Degrading Geobacillus thermoleovorans from Yellowstone National Park(American Society for Microbiology, 2022-05) Meslé, Margaux M.; Mueller, Rebecca C.; Peach, Jesse; Eilers, Brian; Tripet, Brian P.; Bothner, Brian; Copié, Valérie; Peyton, Brent M.The microbial degradation of lignocellulose in natural ecosystems presents numerous biotechnological opportunities, including biofuel production from agricultural waste and feedstock biomass. To explore the degradation potential of specific thermophiles, we have identified and characterized extremophilic microorganisms isolated from hot springs environments that are capable of biodegrading lignin and cellulose substrates under thermoalkaline conditions, using a combination of culturing, genomics, and metabolomics techniques. Organisms that can use lignin and cellulose as a sole carbon source at 60 to 75°C were isolated from sediment slurry of thermoalkaline hot springs (71 to 81°C and pH 8 to 9) of Yellowstone National Park. Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that these isolates were closely related to Geobacillus thermoleovorans. Interestingly, most of these isolates demonstrated biofilm formation on lignin, a phenotype that is correlated with increased bioconversion. Assessment of metabolite level changes in two Geobacillus isolates from two representative springs were undertaken to characterize the metabolic responses associated with growth on glucose versus lignin carbon source as a function of pH and temperature. Overall, results from this study support that thermoalkaline springs harbor G. thermoleovorans microorganisms with lignocellulosic biomass degradation capabilities and potential downstream biotechnological applications.