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Human- and Infrastructure-associated bacteria in greywater
Citation:
Nagarkar, M., S. Keely, N. Brinkman, AND J. Garland. Human- and Infrastructure-associated bacteria in greywater. JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 131(5):2178-2192, (2021). https://doi.org/10.1111/jam.15118
Impact/Purpose:
Greywater, the wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry, is an understudied environment for bacterial communities. Most greywater studies focus on quantifying pathogens, often via proxies like Fecal Indicator Bacteria. More recently, sequencing-based studies have revealed distinct communities in different types of greywater as well as in different parts of greywater infrastructure, including biofilms on pipes, holding tanks, and filtration systems. The use of metagenomic sequencing provides high resolution on both the taxa and genes present, which may be of interest in cases like identifying pathogens and surrogates relevant to different matrices, monitoring antibiotic resistance genes, and understanding metabolic processes occurring in the system. Here we review what is known about bacterial communities in different types of greywater and its infrastructure. We suggest that wider adoption of environmental sequencing in greywater research is important because it can describe the entire bacterial community along with its metabolic capabilities, including pathways for removal of nutrients and organic materials. We briefly describe a metagenomic dataset comparing different types of greywater samples in a college dormitory building to highlight the type of questions these methods can address. Metagenomic sequencing can help further the understanding of greywater treatment for reuse because it allows for identification of new pathogens or genes of concern.
Description:
Greywater, the wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry, is an understudied environment for bacterial communities. Most greywater studies focus on quantifying pathogens, often via proxies like Fecal Indicator Bacteria. More recently, sequencing-based studies have revealed distinct communities in different types of greywater as well as in different parts of greywater infrastructure, including biofilms on pipes, holding tanks, and filtration systems. The use of metagenomic sequencing provides high resolution on both the taxa and genes present, which may be of interest in cases like identifying pathogens and surrogates relevant to different matrices, monitoring antibiotic resistance genes, and understanding metabolic processes occurring in the system. Here we review what is known about bacterial communities in different types of greywater and its infrastructure. We suggest that wider adoption of environmental sequencing in greywater research is important because it can describe the entire bacterial community along with its metabolic capabilities, including pathways for removal of nutrients and organic materials. We briefly describe a metagenomic dataset comparing different types of greywater samples in a college dormitory building to highlight the type of questions these methods can address. Metagenomic sequencing can help further the understanding of greywater treatment for reuse because it allows for identification of new pathogens or genes of concern.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Human- and Infrastructure-associated bacteria in greywater
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