Phylogenomics of Rhodocyclales and its distribution in wastewater treatment systems

Abstract

Rhodocyclales is an abundant bacterial order in wastewater treatment systems and putatively plays key roles in multiple functions. Its phylogenomics, prevalence of denitrifying genes in sub-lineages and distribution in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) worldwide have not been well characterized. In the present study, we collected 78 Rhodocyclales genomes, including 17 from type strains, non-type strains and genome bins contributed by this study. Phylogenomics indicated that the order could be divided into five family-level lineages. With only a few exceptions (mostly in Rhodocyclaceae), nirS-containing genomes in this order usually contained the downstream genes of norB and nosZ. Multicopy of denitrifying genes occurred frequently and events of within-order horizontal transfer of denitrifying genes were phylogenetically deduced. The distribution of Rhodocyclaceae, Zoogloeaceae and Azonexaceae in global WWTPs were significantly governed by temperature, mixed liquor suspended solids, etc. Metagenomic survey showed that the order generally ranked at the top or second for different denitrifying genes in wastewater treatment systems. Our results provided comprehensive genomic insights into the phylogeny and features of denitrifying genes of Rhodocyclales. Its contribution to the denitrifying gene pool in WWTPs was proved.