Bacteria responsible for the anaerobic decomposition of lignocellulosic waste biomass play key roles in the global carbon cycle and possess enzymes with potential industrial application. Here, a novel anaerobic, thermophilic, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain m5T, was isolated from methanogenic enrichment cultures obtained from a lab-scale methanogenic landfill bioreactor digesting anaerobic municipal solid waste. Cells were Gram-stainnegative, catalase-negative, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped, and non-motile. The genomic DNA G + C content was 40.92 mol%. The optimal NaCl concentration, temperature and pH for growth were 0.5-1 g.L-1, 45 degrees C, and at pH 7.0, respectively. The major fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C18:1 omega 9c, and anteisoC15:0. Strain m5T was able to grow in the absence of yeast extract on glucose, fructose, arabinose, cellobiose, galactose, maltose, raffinose, sucrose, lactose, and pyruvate. In the presence of 0.2 % yeast extract, strain m5T grew on wide range of carbohydrates and amino acids, and was able to use complex substrates such cellulose and xylan. Major end products from cellulose and xylan degradation were valerate and propionate. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate was most closely related to Seramator thermalis SYSU GA16112T (94.42 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity). Genome-based relatedness as well as both Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), and Average Amino Acid Identity (AAI) strongly supported that strain m5T belongs to the Dysgonomonadaceae family. Metagenomic analysis of the landfill bioreactor community revealed that the Dysgonomonadaceae family was the most abundant in the constructed bioreactors. Based on its unique genomic features, strain m5T is considered to represent a novel genus, for which the name Anaerorudis is proposed. Moreover, several phenotypic, biochemical, and physiological properties differentiated the novel bacterial strain from related species, indicating that the strain represents a new species for which the name Anaerorudis cellulosivorans sp. nov. is proposed, with strain m5T (= DSM 112743T = ATCC TSD-267T) being the type of strain. This study highlights the biotechnological potential of strain m5T, specifically in the bioconversion of cellulose and xylan, a recalcitrant substrate within lignocellulosic plant biomass, to enhance biogas production.

Bacteria involved in the anaerobic degradation of lignocellulosic waste in landfill sites play crucial roles in carbon turnover and biogas generation. In this study, we isolated and characterized a novel anaerobic bacterium, strain meth-B3ᵀ, from a laboratory-scale methanogenic bioreactor fed with maize-based biomass. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, motile rods with optimal growth at 35 °C, pH 7.0 and 0.7% sodium chloride (NaCl). Strain meth-B3ᵀ utilized a broad spectrum of carbohydrates, amino acids and organic acids, including glucose, cellobiose, glycerol, sucrose, maltose and various nitrogenous compounds. It fermented glucose into acetate, butyrate, lactate, propionate, valerate and ethanol. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a 3.8 Mbp genome with a G+C content of 62.65 mol%. Phylogenomic analyses based on 16S rRNA and conserved marker genes placed strain meth-B3ᵀ within the order Eubacteriales , forming a distinct clade from other known families. Comparative genomic metrics (average nucleotide identity, ≤69.4%; average amino acid identity, ≤54.2%; percentage of conserved protein, ≤35.2%) confirmed that strain meth-B3ᵀ represents a novel genus and family. Notably, carbohydrate-active enzyme and Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) functional profiling revealed an extensive suite of enzymes with potential activities against cellulose, xylan, starch and other maize-derived polymers, underscoring its ecological and biotechnological relevance in biomass degradation and biogas production. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic distinctions, we propose the name Anaerozeibacter quisquiliarum gen. nov., sp. nov., with strain meth-B3ᵀ (=DSM 112769ᵀ=ATCC TSD-269ᵀ) being the type strain, and designate Anaerozeibacteraceae fam. nov. within the order Eubacteriales to accommodate this lineage.

A novel anaerobic, mesophilic, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain m25T) was isolated from methanogenic enrichment cultures obtained from a lab-scale methanogenic landfill bioreactor containing anaerobic digester sludge. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped, and motile by means of a flagellum. The genomic DNA G+C content was 40.11 mol%. The optimal NaCl concentration, temperature and pH for growth were 2.5 g l-1, 35 °C and at pH 7.0, respectively. Strain m25T was able to grow in the absence of yeast extract on glycerol, pyruvate, arginine and cysteine. In the presence of 0.2 % yeast extract, strain m25T grew on carbohydrates and was able to use glucose, cellobiose, fructose, raffinose and galactose. The novel strain could utilize glycerol, urea, pyruvate, peptone and tryptone. The major fatty acids were iso-C15  :  0, C14  :  0, C16  :  0 DMA (dimethyl acetal) and iso-C15 : 0 DMA. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolate was closely related to Lutispora thermophila EBR46T (95.02 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Genome relatedness was determined using both average nucleotide identity and amino acid identity analyses, the results of which both strongly supported that strain m25T belongs to the genus Lutispora. Based on its unique phylogenetic features, strain m25T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Lutispora. Moreover, based on its unique physiologic features, mainly the lack of spore formation, a proposal to amend the genus Lutispora is also provided to include the non-spore-forming and mesophilic species. Lutispora saccharofermentans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is m25T (=DSM 112749T=ATCC TSD-268T).

Reported high drug use at music festivals coupled with factors such as public urination can lead to the direct release of illicit drugs into the environment. Glastonbury Festival 2019 had 203,000 attendees, its site is intercepted by the Whitelake River providing a direct route for illicit drug pollution into the local environment. We tested for popular illicit drugs such as cocaine and MDMA in the river upstream and downstream of the festival site as well as in the neighbouring Redlake River. Both rivers were sampled the weeks before, during and after the festival. Cocaine, benzoylecgonine and MDMA were found at all sample sites; concentrations, and mass loads (mass carried by the river per unit of time) were significantly higher in the Whitelake site, downstream of the festival. MDMA mass loads were 104 times greater downstream in comparison to upstream sites (1.1-61.0 mg/h vs 114.7 mg/h; p < .01). Cocaine and benzoylecgonine mass loads were also 40 times higher downstream of the festival (1.3-4.2 mg/h vs 50.4 mg/h; p < .01) (22.7-81.4 mg/h vs 854.6 mg/h; p < .01). MDMA reached its highest level during the weekend after the festival with a concentration of 322 ng/L. This concentration is deemed harmful to aquatic life using Risk Quotient assessment (RQ) and provides evidence of continuous release after the festival due to leaching of MDMA from the site. Cocaine and benzoylecgonine concentrations were not at levels deemed harmful to aquatic life according to RQ assessment yet were three times higher than MDMA concentrations. Redlake River experienced no significant changes (p > .05) in any illicit drug levels, further confirming that drug release was likely dependent on the festival site. The release of environmentally damaging levels of illicit drugs into Whitelake River during the period of Glastonbury Festival suggests an underreported potential source of environmental contamination from greenfield festival sites.

The Mre11 nuclease is involved in early responses to DNA damage, often mediated by its role in DNA end processing. MRE11 mutations and aberrant expression are associated with carcinogenesis and cancer treatment outcomes. While, in recent years, progress has been made in understanding the role of Mre11 nuclease activities in DNA double-strand break repair, their role during replication has remained elusive. The nucleoside analog gemcitabine, widely used in cancer therapy, acts as a replication chain terminator; for a cell to survive treatment, gemcitabine needs to be removed from replicating DNA. Activities responsible for this removal have, so far, not been identified. We show that Mre11 3' to 5' exonuclease activity removes gemcitabine from nascent DNA during replication. This contributes to replication progression and gemcitabine resistance. We thus uncovered a replication-supporting role for Mre11 exonuclease activity, which is distinct from its previously reported detrimental role in uncontrolled resection in recombination-deficient cells.

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