Metagenomic characterization of bacterial and functional gene communities in reclaimed water distribution systems
Type
ThesisAuthors
Wang, Changzhi
Advisors
Hong, Pei-Ying
Committee members
Pain, Arnab
Daffonchio, Daniele

Date
2019-11Embargo End Date
2020-11-20Permanent link to this record
http://hdl.handle.net/10754/660155
Metadata
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At the time of archiving, the student author of this thesis opted to temporarily restrict access to it. The full text of this thesis will become available to the public after the expiration of the embargo on 2020-11-20.Abstract
Water reuse is increasingly pursued to alleviate global water scarcity. However, wastewater treatment process does not achieve full removal of biological contaminants from wastewater, and hence some microorganisms and their genetic elements can be disseminated into the reclaimed water distribution systems (RWDS). A systematic identification and characterization of these biological contaminants is required. However, a broad characterization for large-scale data are limited. In this study, reclaimed water samples are investigated through metagenomic analyses to assess their bacterial and functional (metal resistance genes (MRGs); virulence factors (VFs)) communities at the entry and exit points of the RWDS. Furthermore, water quality data are investigated to evaluate the potential relationship with these metagenomic annotations. This study found that the organic carbon content was likely relevant to the increase of bacteria and functional genes in RWDS. It was also found that the variation of functional genes was not associated with their host, inferring the role of horizontal gene transfers or promiscuity of hosts for various functional genes. Furthermore, Pseudomonas was identified in one RWDS with significant increase at both bacterial and functional levels.Citation
Wang, C. (2019). Metagenomic characterization of bacterial and functional gene communities in reclaimed water distribution systems. KAUST Research Repository. https://doi.org/10.25781/KAUST-64QRBae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.25781/KAUST-64QRB