Detection of Defluvicoccus-related Glycogen-accumulating Organisms in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Processes

Abstract

To distinguish subgroups of Defluvicoccus-related glycogen-accumulating organisms (Defluvicoccus-related G-bacteria), new oligonucleotide probes were designed. Two of these probes, DF636 and DF827, were used successfully to detect each subgroup of Defluvicoccus-related G-bacteria. The morphological differences in clusters and cells between the DF636- and DF827-binding cells were confirmed. Interestingly, DF636-binding cells showed autofluorescence under UV light. Additionally, autofluorescence was observed in some alphaproteobacterial G-bacteria, which did not bind to any of the probes designed in this study. The results suggested that the Defluvicoccus-related G-bacteria consist of several physiologically different subspecies.