A PCR test to identify bacillus subtilis and closely related species and its application to the monitoring of wastewater biotreatment.

Wattiau, Pierre [UCL] Renard, Marie Eve [UCL] Ledent, Philippe [UCL] Debois, V Blackman, G Agathos, Spiros N. [UCL]

A PCR test based on the 16S rRNA gene was set up that could identify any of the five species of the 'Bacillus subtilis group' (B. subtilis, B. pumilus, B. atrophaeus, B. lichenijormis and B. amyloliquefaciens). The test was directly applicable to single colonies and showed excellent specificity. In the mixed population context of wastewater analysis, direct detection of the target Bacillus species by PCR on either crude or purified DNA extracts had poor sensitivity. When assayed on cell suspensions derived from enriched wastewater samples, sensitivity was increased. Using a simple calibration method, it was possible to estimate the proportion of the target organisms. This method was found suitable for easy monitoring of a wastewater bioaugmentation experiment carried out with a mixture of sporulated Bacillus strains.