Background.

Nitrification and denitrification processes are part of the biogeochemical nitrogen cycle. The microorganisms that carry them out are used in wastewater treatment systems to remove a very common pollutant; ammonium (NH4+) and release molecular nitrogen (N2).

Objective.

Show the diversity and metabolic flexibility of nitrifying and denitrifying consortia used in the elimination of nitrogen from wastewater.

Results.

Among these taxonomically diverse microorganisms, bacteria are the best studied. They are divided and named according to the main process they carry out. Although thanks to the genes they share, their diversity and metabolic flexibility can enable them to survive under changing conditions and through functions different from the process that is canonically attributed to them. The characteristic genes of these processes are used as molecular markers in community studies. However, taxa known canonically as nitrifying may have functional genes of the denitrifying process. Microorganisms classified as typically denitrifying may have functional genes of the nitrifying process. The consortia (flocules, granules and biofilms) used in the elimination of NH4+ are an example of communities that can have superior or different capacities than those of their individual members.

Conclusions.

This review compiles physiological, genetical, and ecological information that contributes to a better understanding of the great diversity and metabolic flexibility of nitrifying and denitrifying consortia. It stands out that in artificial systems, a better knowledge of the participating taxa and their trophic, metabolic and communication relationships, would allow a better control of the nitrifying and denitrifying processes for making them more efficient and stable.