| The community structure of an anaerobic microbial consortium, capable of dechlorination of saturation levels of tetrachloroethene in an continuous-flow column was examined via biomass analysis, comparative 16S rRNA analysis, ARDRA, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Biomass in the column was heterogeneously distributed, with high levels of chemical oxygen demand, DNA and protein located near the inlet and a community structure that varied along its length. Microbial diversity was, at minimum, 34 members, with a number of organisms exhibiting close phylogenetic: relationships with known dechlorinators, in particular, Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Trichlorobacter thiogenes and Dehalobacter restrictus. Furthermore, seven consortium members had their closest relatives detected in other environments containing chlorinated compounds. Based on DGGE and cloning of 16S rRNA genes and phylogenetic analysis dominant Bacterial taxa were deemed to be Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, Shewanella putrefaciens, Acetobacterium psammolithicum , a putative member of the Clostrideaceae, the Anaerobaculum thermoterrenum group, the CFB group, Trichlorobacter , and Pseudomonas putida. |
