Unraveling Candidatus Dermatophostum as a Novel Genus of Polyphosphate-Accumulating Organisms for High-Strength Wastewater Treatment

作者：Hui Wang, Ze Zhao, Limin Lin, Ao Dong, Ye Deng, Jizhong Zhou, Feng Ju · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.64898/2025.12.29.696836 · 研究领域：Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal、Coagulation, Bradykinin, Polyphosphates, and Angioedema、Phosphorus and nutrient management

Abstract Dermatophilaceae polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), formerly classified as Tetrasphaera PAOs, play pivotal roles in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). However, their phylogenetic diversity, ecological preferences, and metabolic traits remain poorly characterized, and a robust marker gene for their classification is lacking. Here, we performed an extensive phylogenomic and metabolic analysis of Dermatophilaceae PAOs utilizing 46 newly recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from a laboratory-scale EBPR reactor treating high-strength wastewater and full-scale wastewater treatment plants. These analyses revealed a previously uncharacterized PAO genus, named Candidatus Dermatophostum, which is adapted to high-phosphorus environments. Its representative species, Ca. D. ammonifactor, was enriched in the EBPR reactor and its PAO phenotype was confirmed by polyphosphate staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization. Genomic, transcriptomic, and protein structure analyses revealed its specialized metabolic capabilities for phosphate metabolism, glycogen synthesis and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium. Moreover, Ca. Dermatophostum was found to be widely distributed across WWPTs worldwide, underscoring both its ecological importance and its potential role in mitigating nitrous oxide (N 2 O) emissions. Finally, we propose a ppk1 -based classification framework that resolves Dermatophilaceae PAOs into six distinct clades, consistent with wh...