Molecular analysis of meso- and thermophilic microbiota associated with anaerobic biowaste degradation

In anaerobic digestion process various groups of microorganisms degrade organic material and produce methane. The microbial community present in the process is in great deal determined by the substrate composition, which can contain materials from food crop residues to industrial waste. At least four different trophic groups are needed for methanogenic degradation, including different bacterial and archaeal taxons. In addition, Fungi are present in these digestors, but their diversity and abundance have not been studied in detail. Our aim in this study was to reveal the structure and diversity of bacterial, archaeal and fungal communities in pilot scale anaerobic reactors operating at different temperatures using 454 amplicon sequencing. In addition, we developed and evaluated a microarray method for analysing the samples. Such microarray technology would enable a rapid monitoring of the microbial situation in the fermentor and, when necessary, the fermentation reject and process waters.