Global Perspectives on Activated Sludge Community Composition analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing

Activated sludge is the most commonly applied bioprocess throughout the world for wastewater treatment. Microorganisms are key to the process, yet our knowledge of their identity and function is still limited. High-througput16S rRNA amplicon sequencing can reliably characterize microbial communities, and in this study activated sludge sampled from 32 Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) around the world was described and compared. The top abundant bacteria in the global activated sludge ecosystem were found and the core population shared by multiple samples was investigated. The results provide novel insights into the global diversity of activated sludge community and provide a baseline to study the factors driving bacterial assembly in WWTPs and prioritize further work aiming at understanding their ecological function.