Phylogenomic analysis of Citrobacter sp. strain AAK_AS5 and its metabolic capabilities to support nitrogen removal behavior

Despite the ubiquity of the genus Citrobacter in clinical, industrial, and environmental scenarios, a large number of Citrobacter strains have not been explored at the genome‐scale level. In this study, accurate taxonomic assignment of strain AAK_AS5 isolated from activated sludge was achieved by in‐silico genomic comparison using Overall Genome‐based Relatedness Indices (ANI(OAT): 97.55%, ANIb:97.28%, and ANIm: 97.83%) that indicated its closest identity to the related strain Citrobacter portucalensis A60T. Results were consistent with a digital DNA–DNA hybridization value of 80% with C. portucalensis A60T which was greater than the species boundary value >70% for delineating closely related bacterial species. Gene mining through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and annotation using rapid annotation subsystem technology (RAST) revealed the notable gene contents for nitrogen metabolism and other pathways associated with nitrate/nitrite ammonification (28 genes), ammonia assimilation (22 genes), and denitrification pathways (14 genes). Furthermore, the strain AAK_AS5 also exhibited a high soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD), NH4+‐N, and NO3‐‐N removal efficiency of 91.4%, 90%, and 93.6%, respectively thus validating its genetic capability for utilizing both (NH4)2SO4 and KNO3 as the nitrogen source. The study provided deeper insights into the phylogenomics and the genetic potential of Citrobacter, sp. strain AAK AS5 associated with nitrogen metabolism thus signifying the potential application of the isolate for treating nitrogen‐rich wastewaters.