Gene-resolved metagenomics reveals partitioned nitrogen transformation potential in a landfill leachate sequencing batch reactor microbiome

Gene-resolved metagenomics of a UK landfill leachate SBR sludge sample shows nitrogen-transformation potential is partitioned across taxa, with Actinomycetota at 4% carrying the highest within-taxon nitrogen-metabolism gene proportion.

• Why it matters: Landfill leachate contains high ammonia and organic nitrogen, and SBRs rely on alternating aerobic/anoxic conditions; taxonomic profiling alone cannot reveal where nitrification, denitrification, DNRA, and ANR potential resides.
• What they did: Nitrogen-metabolism genes were linked to contig-level taxonomy and metagenome-assembled genome bins from one UK landfill leachate SBR sludge sample, assessing nitrification, denitrification, DNRA, and assimilatory nitrate reduction.
• The result: amoABC was restricted to Nitrosomonas and Nitrososphaerota, nosZ appeared only in minor phyla (Chloroflexota, Acidobacteriota, Myxococcota), and gene distributions suggest low-abundance contributors and nitrogen-retention potential beyond taxonomy.

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