Microbial taxonomic profiling of textile industry effluent from Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu for water recycling using Kaiju metagenome classifier

Abstract

The textile industry in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, is a key economic sector, but its wastewater discharge—laden with dyes, chemicals, and heavy metals—poses significant environmental concerns. Effective treatment and recycling of this effluent are essential for sustainability and public health. This study employs the Kaiju metagenome classifier to profile microbial communities in untreated textile effluent, focusing on species-level diversity and its implications for agricultural irrigation and water reuse. Wastewater sample WWS-O was collected from a textile industry discharge point in Tiruppur, and DNA was extracted and sequenced using high-throughput methods. Shotgun metagenomic analysis provided a species-level taxonomic profile, identifying the top 50 microbial species in the effluent. The microbial community was dominated by Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria (SRBs) such as Pleomorphomonas sp. NRK KF1 (5739 genes), Desulfomicrobium apsheronum (3942 genes), and Pseudodesulfovibrio indicus (3564 genes), reflecting strong industrial influence. Notably, some of these SRBs have been previously associated with the rhizosphere of agriculturally important plants, suggesting a potential but underexplored role in soil health and plant-microbe interactions. Unlike previous wastewater studies that focus on genus-level microbial diversity in treatment plants, this study achieves species-level resolution, offering deeper insights into microbial adaptation in industrial effluents. The findings emphasize the need for microbial profiling in wastewater management, particularly in evaluating industrial impact, guiding bioremediation efforts, and ensuring the safe reuse of treated water in agriculture. Understanding the taxonomic distribution of native microbial communities can support sustainable wastewater treatment strategies and long-term environmental protection.