利用PCR-DGGE方法分析不同鸡群的盲肠微生物菌群结构变化

研究不同品种、饲养阶段的健康和不良鸡群对盲肠细菌种群结构和多样性的影响。使用基于16S rDNA的PCR-DGGE技术,结合割胶回收DNA进行克隆和测序,分别以4、6、10、16、20、40周龄蛋鸡及1、2、4、6、7、8周龄肉鸡健康、不良鸡群盲肠内容物为样本,研究其中特定细菌类群的16S rDNA序列片段指纹图谱,并进行聚类分析,鉴定特异性和共性种群。在两品种健康鸡群盲肠内容物的细菌群落中,Lactobacillus属菌株的相似性均高于不良鸡群,并且在不同饲养阶段的健康、不良鸡群间指纹图谱平均条带数差异显著(P<0.05);而Bacteroides属菌株在健康鸡群盲肠内容物细菌的相似性与不良鸡群较为相近,健康、不良鸡群间平均条带数差异显著(P<0.05);Clostridium属菌株在蛋鸡20、40周龄的平均条带数差异不显著(P>0.05),但肉鸡各周龄健康、不良鸡群间的平均条带数差异显著(P<0.05)。序列测序结果,在蛋鸡产蛋期健康、不良鸡群样本中均检测到能动乳杆菌(Lactobacillus agilis),而育雏和育成期中均检测到鸟乳杆菌(Lactobacillus aviaries)和不可培养细菌;两品种的健康、不良鸡群样本中均检测到Bacteroides属的生酸拟杆菌(Bacteroides acidifaciens)、不可培养物细菌(Uncultured bacterium);而健康、不良蛋鸡群样本中均检测到Clostridium属不可培养的变形菌(Uncultured proteobacterium),健康肉鸡群中检测到索氏志贺菌(Shigella sonnei),而两品种不良鸡群中均缺乏此类菌种。结果显示,不同品种、饲养阶段的鸡群,其盲肠细菌群落的组成差异显著,并且细菌种群结构对鸡群的生长发育影响较大。     

蕙兰病株根部内生细菌种群变化

为了研究褐斑病与蕙兰根部内生细菌群落结构和多样性的关联,从野生蕙兰健株和褐斑病株根部分离出内生细菌112株,采用核糖体DNA扩增片段限制性酶切分析(ARDRA),研究了健株和病株内生细菌多样性与群落结构。将内生细菌纯培养物扩增近全长的16S rDNA,并用ARDRA (Amplified Ribosomal DNA Restriction Analysis) 对所分离的菌株进行分型,根据酶切图谱的差异,将健株中的内生细菌分成8个ARDRA型,病株分成13个ARDRA型。并选取代表性菌株进行16S rDNA序列测定。结果表明,健株分离出内生细菌6个属,优势菌群为Bacillus;病株分离出11个属,优势菌群为 Mitsuaria和Flavobacterium。通过回接兰花植物和初步拮抗实验发现,从病株分离出的H5号菌株 (Flavobacterium resistens)使兰花产生病症,而健株中的B02 (Bacillus cereus) 和B22号菌株 (Burkholderia stabilis) 对菌株H5有拮抗作用。     

新疆乌恰泉华地震前后泉水细菌群落的变化

为了解新疆乌恰泉华地震前后泉水细菌群落的变化,采用微生物纯培养方法结合16S rRNA基因序列系统发育分析法对地震前后泉水样品进行研究。结果表明,地震前和地震后可培养菌落的数目、菌群结构和优势菌都存在差异。地震前,25株菌分属于11个科12个属17个种,多数菌落归属于变形菌门γ亚群(Gammaproteobacteria)(82.63%),其中优势菌株为窄食单胞菌属某种\.RB25(Stenotrophomonas sp. RB25)(56.86%)和不动杆菌属某种.RB11(Acinetobacter sp. RB11)(24.31%);地震后,27株菌分属于14个科17个属21个种,总细菌数量减少,但生物多样性提高,变形菌门α亚群(Alphaproteobacteria)(49.64%)上升为优势类群,优势菌株为根瘤菌属某种.RA42(Rhizobium sp. RA42)(28.21%)。该研究为泉水微生物的映震研究积累了资料。     

醉马草免培养内生细菌的多样性

为了解醉马草内生细菌的组成和多样性,采用液氮研磨法提取醉马草总DNA,利用内生细菌16S rRNA基因特异性引物对醉马草总DNA 进行16S rRNA 基因扩增,构建醉马草内生细菌16S rRNA基因文库。对筛选到249个克隆进行Hae Ш酶切分析,得到57个操作分类单元(OTUs)。系统发育分析将其归为4个门:变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)以及1个未知类群。其中74%的克隆与可培养细菌中的37个属具有高的16S rRNA基因序列相似性 (97％-100％),其中芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus spp.)、红球菌属(Rhodococcus spp.)、黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium spp.)、黄单胞杆菌属(Xanthomonas spp.)最为丰富。另外26%的克隆序列与GenBank中已存细菌16S rRNA基因序列相似性小于96%。研究结果表明,醉马草中可培养内生细菌丰富,多样并且可能存在一些潜在新物种或新类群。     

抑制铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌生物膜形成的乳杆菌筛选及机制初探

筛选得到对慢性创面中铜绿假单胞菌（Pseudomonas aeruginosa）和金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)生物膜形成具有抑制作用的乳杆菌(Loctobacillus)。测定不同种乳杆菌对铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌双菌生物膜量、生长及群体感应信号分子AI-2的影响，并采用主成分分析和菌株特性综合分析确定效果最佳的菌株，最后通过荧光定量PCR的方式探究该菌株对生物膜和群体感应相关基因表达的影响。结果表明，植物乳杆菌(Lactobacillus plantarum)、卷曲乳杆菌(Loctobacillus crispatus)、嗜酸乳杆菌(Loctobacillus acidophilus)、鼠李糖乳杆菌(Loctobacillus rhamnosus)、瑞士乳杆菌(Loctobacillus helveticus)、短乳杆菌(Loctobacilkus brevis)具有不同程度的抑菌、抑制生物膜形成的能力，且同种不同株的乳杆菌抑制生物膜形成的能力也有所差异。其中，植物乳杆菌CCFM233产生的AI-2信号分子较多，具有良好的抑菌能力，可使致病菌生物膜形成量降低，铜绿假单胞菌的LasR和rhlI基因表达水平和金黄色葡萄球菌的SarA基因表达水平显著下调。本研究旨在揭示植物乳杆菌CCFM233具有抗铜绿假单胞菌和金黄色葡萄球菌感染的潜力，为其应用于慢性创面敷料提供参考。     

枝顶孢属真菌的抑菌活性及其代谢产物研究

用组织分离法从采集于广东鼎湖山的腐殖质中分离得到一株枝顶孢属真菌(Acremonium sp. SC0105),其固体发酵物的乙醇提取物对金黄色葡萄球菌(Staphylococcus aureus)有较强的抑制作用。经多种柱层析,从固体发酵物中分离得到5个化合物。通过光谱分析,分别鉴定为姜糖脂B (1)、姜糖脂C (2)、D-甘露醇(3)、酒渣碱(4)、枝顶孢素F(5)。其中酒渣碱是首次从枝顶孢属真菌中分离得到。     

红枣贮藏期果面微生物多样性

以2种成熟度不同的红枣(Zizyphus jujuba Mill.)为试验材料在入库前采用保鲜剂处理,未采用保鲜剂处理的红枣为试验对照,研究红枣不同贮藏时期果面微生物多样性。结果表明:红枣贮藏期果面微生物种群中,细菌是优势类群,占微生物总数80%以上,真菌较少;采摘期红枣果面上就携带微生物,真菌优势菌株属于链格孢(Alternaria),其次为镰刀菌(Fusarium)和木霉(Trichoderma),贮藏期优势菌株属于链格孢(Alternaria)、青霉(Penicillium)、木霉(Trichoderma)和镰刀菌(Fusarium),曲霉(Aspergillus)、毛霉(Mucor)和根霉(Rhizopus)次之。红枣贮藏期果面微生物种群动态失衡是导致贮藏病害发生的主要原因,成熟度较高的红枣果面微生物总数、真菌和细菌的数量明显高于成熟度较低的红枣,使用保鲜剂后有效地降低了红枣贮藏期果面微生物的多样性,贮藏时间越长红枣果面微生物的多样性越明显。     

生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病及根际土壤细菌群落的影响

【目的】探明施用生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病的防控效果及对根际土壤微生物的影响。【方法】本研究采用高通量测序技术,综合分析不同施肥措施根际土壤微生物细菌群落多样性及群落特征。【结果】相比常规施肥处理(CK)和普通有机肥处理(YJ),生物有机肥处理KN (羊粪有机肥+泥炭土+枯草芽孢杆菌)和生物有机肥处理KY (羊粪有机肥+椰糠+枯草芽孢杆菌)均能显著降低菠萝心腐病的发病率,且KN处理的防控效果最佳。生物有机肥(KN、KY)施入后土壤细菌α多样性指数高于CK和YJ处理,并形成了明显不同的细菌群落结构。与CK相比,生物有机肥KN处理显著提高了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的丰度,KY处理中的酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)丰度显著增加;属水平上,生物有机肥中的蔗糖伯克霍尔德菌属(Paraburkholderia)和黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)丰度均显著提升。方差分区分析(variance partitioning analysis, VPA)表明,土壤化学性质(36.29%)对细菌群落影响最大,其中土壤速效钾和有机质是影响土壤细菌群落的关键因子,此外发病率(22.53%)和肥料偏生产力(16.42%)也是影响土壤细菌群落的重要因子。【结论】施用生物有机肥(KN、KY)能改变根际土壤细菌群落结构,降低发病率,对菠萝根际土壤生态系统稳定与健康具有重要意义。     

陆地革菌的化学成分研究

从陆地革菌(Thelephora terrestris)子实体中分离得到9个已知化合物,经波谱学分析鉴定为:(22E,24R)-麦角甾-7,22-二烯-3β -醇 (1),(22E, 24R)-麦角甾-7, 22-二烯-3β ,5α,6β -三醇 (2),(22E,24R)-麦角甾-4,6,8(14),22-四烯-3-酮 (3),24-亚甲基羊毛甾-8-烯-3β -醇 (4),熊果酸 (5),木栓酮 (6),cerebroside B (7),(2S,3S,4R,2'R)-2-(2'-羟基二十二碳酰氨基)-十八碳烷-1,3,4-三醇 (8),(2S,3S,4R,2'R)-2-(2'-羟基二十三碳酰氨基)-十八碳烷-1,3,4-三醇 (9)。     

广东西部云开山自然保护区蕨类植物多样性调查

野外调查和标本鉴定结果表明,云开山自然保护区共有185种蕨类植物,其中10种为广东新分布:中华桫椤(Alsophila costularis)、白桫椤(Sphaeropteris brunoniana)、有刺凤尾蕨(Pteris setulosacostulata)、禾秆亮毛蕨(Acystopteris tenuisecta)、高大短肠蕨(Allantodia muricata)、细裂铁角蕨(Asplenium tenuifolium)、无盖肉刺蕨(Nothoperanema shikokianum)、蓝色鳞毛蕨(Dryopteris polita)、云南舌蕨(Elaphoglossum yunnanense)和黑鳞剑蕨(Loxogramme assimilis)。该地蕨类植物区系主要由亚洲热带亚热带分布和东亚分布成分(各占约37%的种类)构成,以鳞毛蕨科(Dryopteridaceae)、水龙骨科(Polypodiaceae)、金星蕨科(Thelypteridaceae)、蹄盖蕨科(Athyriaceae)和铁角蕨科(Aspleniaceae)的植物最为丰富,包含13种中国特有种但缺乏本地特有成分。垂直分布的统计结果表明,绝大多数植物(143种)生活在海拔900~1300 m的常绿阔叶林下,局限分布于海拔800 m以下的植物有15种,而局限分布于海拔1400~1700 m的植物有23种。该地的珍稀蕨类植物有马尾杉(Phlegmariurus phlegmaria)、华南马尾杉(P. austrosinicu)、薄叶阴地蕨(Sceptridium daucifolium)、小黑桫椤(Gymnosphaera metteniana)、中华桫椤、白桫椤、长柄车前蕨(Antrophyum obovatum)、黑鳞复叶耳蕨(Arachniodes nigrospinosa)、两广鳞毛蕨(Dryopteris liangkwangensis)、云南舌蕨、燕尾蕨(Cheiropleuria bicuspis)、锯蕨(Micropolypodium okuboi)和穴子蕨(Prosaptia urceolaris)。     

Phylogenetic and functional prokaryotic diversity in the Hoito-Gol mesothermal mineral spring (Eastern Sayan Mountains,Buryat Republic)

High-throughput sequencing was used for comparative analysis of microbial communities of the water and mat from the Hoito-Gol mesothermal mineral sulfide spring (Eastern Sayan Mountains, Buryat Republic). Activity of microbial communities was determined. While both spring biotopes were dominated by members of three bacterial phyla—Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes—they differed drastically in the composition of predominant phylotypes (at the genus level). In the water, the organisms widespread in aquatic environments were predominant, mostly aerobic chemoorganotrophs of the genera Acinetobacter, Pedobacter, and Flavobacterium. In the microbial mat, the organisms actively involved in the sulfur cycle predominated, including sulfur-reducing bacteria Sulfurospirillum, sulfate-reducing deltaproteobacteria, sulfuroxidizing chemoautotrophic bacteria, anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria of the phyla Chloroflexi and Chlorobi, as well as purple bacteria belonging to the α-, ß-, and γ-Proteobacteria. Microbial mats of the spring exhibited higher phylogenetic diversity compared to high-temperature mats containing photosynthetic microorganisms.     

Biodiversity and monitoring of colorless filamentous bacteitrtn sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus region

Bacterial mats in sulfide aquatic systems of North Caucasus are basically composed by the species of genera Thiothrix and Sphaerotilus. Additionally, several non-filamentous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from the mats and several minor 16S rRNA phylotypes were found in clone libraries from these mats. The minor components were affiliated with Proteobacteria, Chlorobia, Cyanobacteria and Firmicutes. Even in an individual mat population heterogeneity of Thiothrix spp. was revealed by analysis of 16S rRNA gene and RAPD-PCR. Five Thiothrix isolates were described as new species Thiothrix caldifontis sp. nov. and Thiothrix lacustris sp. nov. In the Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of bacterial mat the proportion of dominant organisms might be influenced by sulfide concentration in the spring water. The higher sulfide concentration (more than 10 mg/1) in the spring water is more favorable for the development of bacterial mats with dominant Thiothrix organisms than for Thiothrix-Sphaerotilus type of sulfur mat.     

Pyrosequencing Analysis of the Bacterial Community in Drinking Water Wells

Wells used for drinking water often have a large biomass and a high bacterial diversity. Current technologies are not always able to reduce the bacterial population, and the threat of pathogen proliferation in drinking water sources is omnipresent. The environmental conditions that shape the microbial communities in drinking water sources have to be elucidated, so that pathogen proliferation can be foreseen. In this work, the bacterial community in nine water wells of a groundwater aquifer in Northern Mexico were characterized and correlated to environmental characteristics that might control them. Although a large variation was observed between the water samples, temperature and iron concentration were the characteristics that affected the bacterial community structure and composition in groundwater wells. Small increases in the concentration of iron in water modified the bacterial communities and promoted the growth of the iron-oxidizing bacteria Acidovorax. The abundance of the genera Flavobacterium and Duganella was correlated positively with temperature and the Acidobacteria Gp4 and Gp1, and the genus Acidovorax with iron concentrations in the well water. Large percentages of Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas bacteria were found, and this is of special concern as bacteria belonging to both genera are often biofilm developers, where pathogens survival increases.     

Bacterial community structure analysis of a hot spring soil by next generation sequencing of ribosomal RNA

In the present study the whole bacterial community structure of Tapovan hot spring soil located in the state of Uttarakhand, India was analysed through next generation sequencing. The hot spring soil is slightly alkaline in nature with abundance of sulphur. The spring soil was rich in various metallic and non-metallic elements required for bacterial survival. The community was found to comprise of 14 bacterial phyla with representation of members belonging to Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Thermi, Bacteroidetes, Aquificae, Actinobacteria, chloroflexi, TM7, Fusobacteria etc. At the genus level Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Symbiobacterium, Thermus, Geobacillus, Anoxybacillus were found in abundance as compared to other genera like Flavobacterium, Ureibacillus, Clostridium, Meiothermus, Acinetobacter, Desulfotomaculum and Rheinheimera.     

Recruitment response of methane-seep macrofauna to sulfide-rich sediments: An in situ experiment

Hydrodynamically unbiased colonization trays were deployed for 6 months (Oct. 2000 to April 2001) on the northern California margin (Eel R. region; 525 m) to examine macrofaunal colonization rates at methane seeps. The influence of sulfide on recruitment and survival was examined by deploying sediments with and without sulfide added; effect of seep proximity was evaluated by placing trays inside and outside seeps. The trays contained a two-layer system mimicking vesicomyid clam bed habitat geochemistry, with 8-9 mM sulfide in a lower agar layer at the start of the experiment. After 6 month on the seabed, the lower agar layer contained 2-4 mM H₂S. We observed rapid macrofaunal colonization equivalent to 50% of initial non-seep ambient densities. There was no difference in total colonizer densities, number of species, or rarefaction diversity among 3 treatments: (1) controls (no sulfide added) placed outside seeps, (2) trays with sulfide added placed outside seeps and (3) trays with sulfide added placed inside seep patches. Colonization trays with sulfide placed at seeps had different species composition from trays without sulfide place outside seeps; there were more amphipods (non-ampeliscid) and cumaceans in the seep/sulfide treatment and more nemerteans, Nephtys cornuta and tanaids in the non-seep/no-sulfide treatment. Outside seeps, annelids comprised < 15% of tray colonists; within seep patches, annelids comprised 5 of the top 10 dominant colonizing taxa (24% of the total). The polychaetes Mediomastus sp., Aphelochaeta sp., Paraonidae sp., and Nerillidae sp. exhibited significantly higher densities in sulfide additions. Tanaids, echinoderms, and N. cornuta exhibited sulfide avoidance. At least 6 dorvilleid polychaete species colonized the experiments. Of these, 4 species occurred exclusively in trays with sulfide added and 80% of all dorvilleid individuals were found in trays with sulfide placed inside seep sediments. Counts of large sulfur bacterial filaments were positively correlated with maximum sulfide concentration in each tray, and with proximity of sulfide to the sediment surface. However, total macrofaunal densities were not correlated with tray sulfide concentrations. As a group, tray assemblages achieved some but not all characteristics of ambient seep assemblages after 6-month exposure on the sea floor. Distinctive colonization patterns at methane seeps contribute to the dynamic mosaic of habitat patches that characterize the eastern Pacific continental margin.Overall, proximity of seep habitats had at least as great an influence on macrofaunal colonization as tray sulfide concentrations. Taxa characteristic of seep sediments were more likely to settle into trays placed inside rather than outside seep patches. Whether this is due to limited dispersal ability or local geochemical cues remains to be determined.     

Effect of azithromycin on enhancement of methane production from waste activated sludge

In the methane production from waste activated sludge (WAS), complex bacterial interactions in WAS have been known as a major contribution to methane production. Therefore, the influence of bacterial community changes toward methane production from WAS was investigated by an application of antibiotics as a simple means for it. In this study, azithromycin (Azm) as an antibiotic was mainly used to observe the effect on microbial changes that influence methane production from WAS. The results showed that at the end of fermentation, Azm enhanced methane production about twofold compared to control. Azm fostered the growth of acid-producing bacterial communities, which synthesized more precursors for methane formation. DGGE result showed that the hydrolysis as well as acetogenesis stage was improved by the dominant of B1, B2 and B3 strains, which are Clostridium species. In the presence of Azm, the total population of archaeal group was increased, resulting in higher methane productivity achievement.     

Comparison of RNA- and DNA-based bacterial communities in a lab-scale methane-degrading biocover

Methanotrophs must become established and active in a landfill biocover for successful methane oxidation. A lab-scale biocover with a soil mixture was operated for removal of methane and nonmethane volatile organic compounds, such as dimethyl sulfide (DMS), benzene (B), and toluene (T). The methane elimination capacity was 211?±?40 g?m^?2 d^?1 at inlet loads of 330–516 g?m^?2 d^?1. DMS, B, and T were completely removed at the bottom layer (40–50 cm) with inlet loads of 221.6?±?92.2, 99.6?±?19.5, and 23.4?±?4.9 mg m^?2 d^?1, respectively. The bacterial community was examined based on DNA and RNA using ribosomal tag pyrosequencing. Interestingly, methanotrophs comprised 80 % of the active community (RNA) while 29 % of the counterpart (DNA). Types I and II methanotrophs equally contributed to methane oxidation, and Methylobacter, Methylocaldum, and Methylocystis were dominant in both communities. The DNA vs. RNA comparison suggests that DNA-based analysis alone can lead to a significant underestimation of active members.     

Effects of nonmethane volatile organic compounds on microbial community of methanotrophic biofilter

Effects of nonmethane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) on methanotrophic biofilter were investigated. Laboratory-scale biofilters packed with pumice and granular-activated carbon (10:1, w/w) were operated with CH₄ and NMVOCs including dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and benzene/toluene (B/T). DMS alone exhibited a positive effect on the methanotrophic performance; however, the coexistence of B/T removed this effect. B/T alone exerted no effect on the performance. Pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR revealed that the NMVOCs strongly influenced the bacterial and methanotrophic communities but not the population density of methanotrophs. DMS alone diversified and changed both bacterial and methantrophic communities, but its effects were nullified by the presence of B/T. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed significant correlations between the NMVOCs and community composition and significant interaction between DMS and B/T. DMS did not affect the distribution of types I/II methanotrophs (60/40), while B/T increased the abundance of type I to 82 %. DMS and B/T favored the growth of the methanotrophic bacteria Methylosarcina and Methylomonas, respectively. These results suggest that NMVOCs can be a significant abiotic factor influencing methane biofiltration.     

Bacterial Succession in a Petroleum Land Treatment Unit

Bacterial community dynamics were investigated in a land treatment unit (LTU) established at a site contaminated with highly weathered petroleum hydrocarbons in the C₁₀ to C₃₂ range. The treatment plot, 3,000 cubic yards of soil, was supplemented with nutrients and monitored weekly for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), soil water content, nutrient levels, and aerobic heterotrophic bacterial counts. Weekly soil samples were analyzed with 16S rRNA gene terminal restriction fragment (TRF) analysis to monitor bacterial community structure and dynamics during bioremediation. TPH degradation was rapid during the first 3 weeks and slowed for the remainder of the 24-week project. A sharp increase in plate counts was reported during the first 3 weeks, indicating an increase in biomass associated with petroleum degradation. Principal components analysis of TRF patterns revealed a series of sample clusters describing bacterial succession during the study. The largest shifts in bacterial community structure began as the TPH degradation rate slowed and the bacterial cell counts decreased. For the purpose of analyzing bacterial dynamics, phylotypes were generated by associating TRFs from three enzyme digests with 16S rRNA gene clones. Two phylotypes associated with Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas were dominant in TRF patterns from samples during rapid TPH degradation. After the TPH degradation rate slowed, four other phylotypes gained dominance in the community while Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas phylotypes decreased in abundance. These data suggest that specific phylotypes of bacteria were associated with the different phases of petroleum degradation in the LTU.     

Molecular characterization of the nitrifying bacterial consortia employed for the activation of bioreactors used in brackish and marine aquaculture systems

The addition of commercial nitrifying bacterial products has resulted in significant improvement of nitrification efficiency in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). We developed two nitrifying bacterial consortia (NBC) from marine and brackish water as start up cultures for immobilizing commercialized nitrifying bioreactors for RAS. In the present study, the community compositions of the NBC were analyzed by universal 16S rRNA gene and bacterial amoA gene sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This study demonstrated that both the consortia involved autotrophic nitrifiers, denitrifiers as well as heterotrophs. Abundant taxa of the brackish water heterotrophic bacterial isolates were Paenibacillus and Beijerinckia spp. whereas in the marine consortia they were Flavobacterium, Cytophaga and Gramella species. The bacterial amoA clones were clustered together with high similarity to Nitrosomonas sp. and uncultured beta Proteobacteria. FISH analysis detected ammonia oxidizers belonging to β subclass of proteobacteria and Nitrosospira sp. in both the consortia, and Nitrosococcus mobilis lineage only in the brackish water consortium and the halophilic Nitrosomonas sp. only in the marine consortium. However, nitrite oxidizers, Nitrobacter sp. and phylum Nitrospira were detected in both the consortia. The metabolites from nitrifiers might have been used by heterotrophs as carbon and energy sources making the consortia a stable biofilm.