Directed regulation of anammox communities based on exogenous siderophores for highly efficient nitrogen removal

•Enterobactin and putrebactin specific for anammox bacteria were selected by synthetic biology.•Application of selected exogenous siderophore significantly improved nitrogen removal rate.•Two siderophores created Ca. Brocadia-dominated and Ca. Kuenenia-dominated communities, respectively.•Siderophores directionally regulated anammox communities by redistributing iron resources. It is expected that the quicker domestication of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) communities and the enhancement of their nitrogen transformation capability can be achieved through targeted regulation of anammox communities. Iron cast a vital role in the growth and metabolism of anammox bacteria. Specific siderophores offer promising prospects for the targeted regulation of anammox communities by facilitating the efficient utilization of iron. Two siderophores–enterobactin and putrebactin–exclusively for Ca. Brocadia and Ca. Kuenenia were developed to specifically regulate anammox communities towards different directions, respectively. Anammox communities in the reactors evoluted targetedly towards Ca. Brocadia-dominated communities and Ca. Kuenenia-dominated communities, respectively, leading to a maximum increase in community nitrogen removal capacity by 84.64±0.55% and 210.26±0.57%, respectively, under different nitrogen concentrations. It was indicated that siderophores could regulate anammox communities by redistributing iron resources in a targeted manner based on the analyses of transcriptome and proteome. This study provides novel insights into the rational selection and utilization of exogenous siderophores as an effective implement to manipulate anammox communities and create communities with high nitrogen removal ability fleetly. [Display omitted]