Insight into the mechanism of a novel heterotrophic nitrifying – aerobic denitrifying bacterium, Bacillus subtilis strain H1, and its application potential in mariculture wastewater treatment

The nitrogen removal performance and mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis H1 isolated from a mariculture environment were investigated. Strain H1 efficiently removed NH 4 + -N, NO 2 − -N, and NO 3 − -N in simulated wastewater with removal efficiencies of 85.61%, 90.58%, and 57.82%, respectively. Strain H1 also efficiently degraded mixed nitrogen and had removal efficiencies ranging from 82.39–89.54%. Nitrogen balance analysis revealed that inorganic nitrogen was degraded by heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) and assimilation. 15 N isotope tracing indicated N 2 O was the product of the HN-AD process, while N 2 as the final product was only detected during the reduction of 15 NO 2 − -N. The nitrogen assimilation and dissimilation pathways by strain H1 were further clarified using complete genome sequencing, nitrification inhibitor addition, and enzymatic activity measurement, and the ammonium oxidation process was speculated as NH 4 + → NH 2 OH→ NO→ N 2 O. These results showed the application prospect of B. subtilis H1 in treating mariculture wastewater.