Community structure and functional genes in radionuclide contaminated soils in Chernobyl and Fukushima

Chernobyl and Fukushima were subjected to radionuclide (RN) contamination that has led to environmental problems. In order to explore the ability of microorganisms to survive in these environments, we used a combined 16S rRNA and metagenomic approach to describe the prokaryotic community structure and metabolic potential over a gradient of RN concentrations (137Cs 1680–0.4 and 90Sr 209.1–1.9 kBq kg−1) in soil samples. The taxonomic results showed that samples with low 137Cs content (37.8–0.4 kBq kg−1) from Fukushima and Chernobyl clustered together. In order to determine the effect of soil chemical parameters such as organic carbon (OC), Cesium-137 (137Cs) and Strontium-90 (90Sr) on the functional potential of microbial communities, multiple predictor model analysis using piecewiseSEM was carried out on Chernobyl soil metagenomes. The model identified 46 genes that were correlated to these parameters of which most have previously been described as mechanisms used by microorganisms under stress conditions. This study provides a baseline taxonomic and metagenomic dataset for Fukushima and Chernobyl, respectively, including physical and chemical characteristics. Our results pave the way for evaluating the possible RN selective pressure that might contribute to shaping microbial community structure and their functions in contaminated soils.

Elucidation of the thermophilic phenol biodegradation pathway via benzoate during the anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste

Anaerobic digestion makes it possible to valorize municipal solid waste (MSW) into biogas and digestate which are, respectively, a renewable energy source and an organic amendment for soil. Phenols are persistent pollutants present in MSW that can inhibit the anaerobic digestion process and have a toxic effect on microbiota if they are applied to soil together with digestate. It is then important to define the operational conditions of anaerobic digestion which allow the complete degradation of phenol. In this context, the fate of phenol during the anaerobic digestion of MSW at 55°C was followed using an isotopic tracing approach ((13)C6-phenol) in experimental microcosms with inoculum from an industrial thermophilic anaerobic digester. With this approach, it was possible to demonstrate the complete phenol biodegradation into methane and carbon dioxide via benzoate. Benzoate is known to be a phenol metabolite under mesophilic conditions, but in this study it was found for the first time to be a phenol degradation product at thermophilic temperature.