Extremophiles: from abyssal to terrestrial ecosystems and possibly beyond |
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Authors: | Francesco Canganella Juergen Wiegel |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Agrobiology and Agrochemistry, University of Tuscia, Via C. de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo, Italy;(2) Department of Microbiology and Center for Biological Resource Recovery, University of Georgia, 215 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30601, USA |
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Abstract: | The anthropocentric term “extremophile” was introduced more than 30 years ago to describe any organism capable of living and
growing under extreme conditions—i.e., particularly hostile to human and to the majority of the known microorganisms as far
as temperature, pH, and salinity parameters are concerned. With the further development of studies on microbial ecology and
taxonomy, more “extreme” environments were found and more extremophiles were described. Today, many different extremophiles
have been isolated from habitats characterized by hydrostatic pressure, aridity, radiations, elevated temperatures, extreme
pH values, high salt concentrations, and high solvent/metal concentrations, and it is well documented that these microorganisms
are capable of thriving under extreme conditions better than any other organism living on Earth. Extremophiles have also been
investigated as far as the search for life in other planets is concerned and even to evaluate the hypothesis that life on
Earth came originally from space. Extremophiles are interesting for basic and applied sciences. Particularly fascinating are
their structural and physiological features allowing them to stand extremely selective environmental conditions. These properties
are often due to specific biomolecules (DNA, lipids, enzymes, osmolites, etc.) that have been studied for years as novel sources
for biotechnological applications. In some cases (DNA polymerase, thermostable enzymes), the search was successful and the
final application was achieved, but certainly further exploitations are next to come. |
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