biostudies-literatureCardona LSwiss National Science Foundation1650167https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12604563biostudies-literatureUnknown16Polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) play a crucial role in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes. In addition to biosynthesis, they rely on phosphate for energy generation. However, <i>Candidatus</i> Accumulibacter, a model PAO, has been shown to adapt to low phosphate conditions by switching to a glycogen-accumulating metabolism (GAM), with variable success across genus members and experiments. This study aimed to explore the metabolic shift of several <i>Accumulibacter</i> species subjected to low-phosphate concentration in different operating conditions using metatranscriptomics analysis. Furthermore, the study enabled a comparison of the transcriptomic profiles of <i>Accumulibacter</i> with those of <i>Propionivibrio</i>, a glycogen-accumulating organism typicFrontiers in microbiologyComparative transcription profiles of <i>Candidatus</i> Accumulibacter and <i>Propionivibrio</i> under phosphate limitation in sequencing batch reactors.PMC12604563180575Ramirez PNRCardona LAdler AHolliger CfalseComparative transcription profiles of <i>Candidatus</i> Accumulibacter and <i>Propionivibrio</i> under phosphate limitation in sequencing batch reactors.Polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) play a crucial role in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes. In addition to biosynthesis, they rely on phosphate for energy generation. However, <i>Candidatus</i> Accumulibacter, a model PAO, has been shown to adapt to low phosphate conditions by switching to a glycogen-accumulating metabolism (GAM), with variable success across genus members and experiments. This study aimed to explore the metabolic shift of several <i>Accumulibacter</i> species subjected to low-phosphate concentration in different operating conditions using metatranscriptomics analysis. Furthermore, the study enabled a comparison of the transcriptomic profiles of <i>Accumulibacter</i> with those of <i>Propionivibrio</i>, a glycogen-accumulating organism typic2025-01-01T00:00:00Z20252026-06-05T12:56:01.091Z2026-05-17T03:08:03.482ZS-EPMC126045634122968210.3389/fmicb.2025.1650167