Complex interactions between autotrophic nitrite-oxidizing Nitrospira and heterotrophic bacteria enriched from activated sludge. Interactions of Nitrospira and heterotrophs

Chemolithoautotrophic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria are essential for nitrogen cycling in natural environments and for nitrogen removal from wastewater. In this study, we explored interactions of the nitrite oxidizer Nitrospira defluvii with two co-existing heterotrophic Nocardioides strains in a nitrite-oxidizing enrichment culture established from activated sludge.