Bug of the Month: Filaments and Shape-Shifting Bacteria

The more we learn about wastewater, the more we learn about the complexities associated with various topics as we attempt to keep up with advancements in technology and determine when and where new information may be applied. Within the last 20-30 years, DNA testing such as 16S rRNA sequencing has helped us grasp the vast potential genetic variety of the microbial communities that inhabit our mixed liquor. The microbial database for activated sludge (MiDAS) is one of the leaders in this area of research and includes frequent updates to its ever-growing free and online database.In research, individual bacteria are isolated and