bioreactor metagenome Genome sequencing and assembly. bioreactor metagenome

During this study, the microbial interactions in the nitrogen, sulfur and methane cycles were investigated in an anoxic laboratory-scale bioreactor closely mimicking natural conditions. The fluxes of nitrogen, sulfur and methane could be attributed to distinct physiological groups by activity measurements, microscopy and metagenomics. Furthermore, several high quality draft genomes were recovered. Surprisingly, the most dominant member of the microbial community, amounting to 24% of total metagenome reads, represents a novel family within the phylum Nitrospira. It is only distantly related to cultured Thermodesulfovibrio species (87-89% 16S rRNA gene identity). Analysis of this draft genome revealed a versatile metabolic potential as well as broad environmental distribution of its family members.