The present disclosure concerns a recombinant bacterial host cell capable of providing a nitrogen source to a yeast during fermentation to make ethanol. The recombinant bacterial host cell is capable of converting a biomass into ethanol. The recombinant bacterial host cell has at least one first genetic modification. The at least one genetic modifications confers to the recombinant bacterial host cell the ability to increase, when compared to a corresponding control bacterial cell lacking the at least one first genetic modification, the proteolytic activity associated with the recombinant bacterial host cell. The at least one genetic modification also confers the recombinant bacterial host cell the ability to provide a nitrogen source to a yeast capable of converting the biomass into ethanol, wherein the nitrogen source comprises a peptide, an amino acid and/or ammonia.

The present disclosure concerns a recombinant bacterial host cell capable of providing a nitrogen source to a yeast during fermentation to make ethanol. The recombinant bacterial host cell is capable of converting a biomass into ethanol. The recombinant bacterial host cell has at least one first genetic modification. The at least one genetic modifications confers to the recombinant bacterial host cell the ability to increase, when compared to a corresponding control bacterial cell lacking the at least one first genetic modification, the proteolytic activity associated with the recombinant bacterial host cell. The at least one genetic modification also confers the recombinant bacterial host cell the ability to provide a nitrogen source to a yeast capable of converting the biomass into ethanol, wherein the nitrogen source comprises a peptide, an amino acid and/or ammonia.