Profiling bulking and foaming bacteria in activated sludge by high throughput sequencing

► Total bulking and foaming bacteria (BFB) were quantified by pyrosequencing. ► The BFB community profile was analyzed based on the 10,682 sequences. ► The BFB in the 14 samples have a clear geographical distribution pattern. ► Group-specific BFB probes were evaluated and designed based on the new sequences.