Electrode Colonization by the Feammox Bacterium Acidimicrobiaceae sp. Strain A6

Abstract

Most studies on electrogenic microorganisms have focused on the most abundant heterotrophs, while other microorganisms also commonly present in electrode microbial communities, such as Actinobacteria strains, have been overlooked. The novel Acidimicrobiaceae sp. strain A6 ( Actinobacteria ) is an iron-reducing bacterium that can colonize the surface of anodes in sediments and is linked to electrical current production, making it an electrode-reducing bacterium. Furthermore, A6 can carry out anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled to iron reduction. Therefore, findings from this study open the possibility of using electrodes instead of iron as electron acceptors, as a means to promote A6 to treat NH 4 + -containing wastewater more efficiently. Altogether, this study expands our knowledge of electrogenic bacteria and opens the possibility of developing Feammox-based technologies coupled to bioelectric systems for the treatment of NH 4 + and other contaminants in anoxic systems.