There and back again: Genomic insights into microbial life in a recirculating petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment system

Fengji Wu; Bronwyn C. Campbell; Paul Greenfield; Grant C. Hose; David J. Midgley; Simon C. George

doi:10.1016/j.micres.2025.128299

Back

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

There and back again: Genomic insights into microbial life in a recirculating petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment system

Fengji Wu, Bronwyn C. Campbell, Paul Greenfield, Grant C. Hose, David J. Midgley and Simon C. George

Microbiological Research, Vol.301, pp.1-12

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micres.2025.128299

PMID: 40803134

Files and links (1)

pdf

There and back again: Genomic insights into microbial life in a recirculating petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment system4.94 MBDownload View

Published Version Open Access CC BY-NC V4.0

Abstract

Activated sludge

Microbial ecology

Metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs)

Nutrient cycling

Ecological niche

Competitive-stress-tolerant-ruderal (CSR)

model

Petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment relies on microbes to remediate carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur compounds, yet their life strategies and ecological roles remain unclear. This study characterises the ecological functions of 20 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from a full-scale petroleum refinery wastewater treatment plant in southern China. The taxonomic identity, nutrient metabolism genes (including C/N/S cycling), carbohydrate-active enzymes, and CRISPR-Cas systems of these MAGs were analysed. The recovered MAGs represented bacteria primarily from the Pseudomonadota and Bacteroidota phyla. The major carbon sources for the represented organisms are likely aromatic and aliphatic compounds, as well as carbohydrates including peptidoglycan, chitin, and starch. Almost all MAGs contained genes for nitrate or nitrite reduction, while metabolic pathways for sulfur metabolism were generally less prevalent. Meiothermus sp. bin.89 was the most metabolically versatile MAG. This organism possessed genes that allowed it to recycle biomass, break down aliphatic and monoaromatic compounds, and perform anaerobic respiration using nitrate. However, it was likely the most susceptible to viral predation, as indicated by the high abundance of CRISPR spacers. Overall, the results revealed that stress-tolerant ecological traits were common among organisms in this microbiome, showcasing the ability of the microbes to obtain carbon from aromatic and aliphatic compounds. This study provides a substantial contribution towards future efforts in optimising microbiome stability for pollutant removal in petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment systems.

Details

Title: There and back again: Genomic insights into microbial life in a recirculating petroleum refinery wastewater biotreatment system
Authors: Fengji Wu (Corresponding Author) - Macquarie University
Bronwyn C. Campbell (Author) - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Paul Greenfield (Author) - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Grant C. Hose (Author) - Macquarie University
David J. Midgley (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Simon C. George (Author) - Macquarie University
Publication details: Microbiological Research, Vol.301, pp.1-12
Publisher: Elsevier GmbH
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2025.128299
ISSN: 1618-0623
PMID: 40803134
Data Availability: Data will be made available on request.
Grant note: This work was supported by an International Macquarie University Research Excellence Scholarship.
Organisation Unit: Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991258096102621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

1 Record Views

3 Times Cited - Web of Science