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.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abe F, Kat C, Horikoshi K (1999) Pressure-regulated metabolism in microorganisms. Trends Microbiol 7:447–453
Adams MWW (1999) The biochemical diversity of life near and above 100 °C in marine environments. J Appl Microbiol 85:108S–117S
Aguilar A (1996) Extremophile research in the European Union: from fundamental aspects to industrial expectations. FEMS Microbiol Rev 18:89–92
Aguilar A, Ingemansson T, Magniea E (1998) Extremophile microorganisms as cell factories: support from the European Union. Extremophiles 2:367–373
Alain K, Callac N, Guégan M, Lesongeur F, Crassous P, Cambon-Bonavita MA, Querellou J, Prieur D (2009) Nautilia abyssi sp. nov., a thermophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-reducing bacterium isolated from an East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1310–1315
Alajtal AI, Edwards HG, Scowen IJ (2009) Raman spectroscopic analysis of minerals and organic molecules of relevance to astrobiology. Anal Bioanal Chem 297(1):215–221
Alimenti C, Vallesi A, Pedrini B, Wüthrich K, Luporini P (2009) Molecular cold-adaptation: comparative analysis of two homologous families of psychrophilic and mesophilic signal proteins of the protozoan ciliate, Euplotes. IUBMB Life 61:838–845
Anton J, Rossello-Mora R, Rodrigues-Valera F, Amman R (2000) Extremely halophilic bacteria in crystallizer ponds from solar salterns. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:3052–3057
Antranikian G, Vorgias CE, Bertoldo C (2005) Extreme environments as a resource for microorganisms and novel biocatalysts. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol 96:219–262
Antunes A, Rainey FA, Wanner G, Taborda M, Patzold J, Nobre MF, Da Costa MS, Huber R (2008) A new lineage of halophilic, wall-less, contractile bacteria from a brine-filled deep of the Red Sea. J Bacteriol 190:3580–3587
Aono R, Kobayashi H (1997) Cell surface properties of organic solvent-tolerant mutants of Escherichia coli K-12. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:3637–3642
Arahal DR, Ventosa A (2006) The family Halomonadaceae. In: Dworkin M, Falkow S, Rosenberg E, Schleifer K-H, Stackebrandt E (eds) Prokaryotes. Springer, New York, pp 811–835
Arahal DR, Marquez MC, Volcani BE, Schleifer KH, Ventosa A (1999) Bacillus marismortui sp. nov., a new moderately halophilic species from the Dead Sea. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49:521–530
Arahal DR, Gutierrez MC, Volcani BE, Ventosa A (2000) Taxonomic analysis of extremely halophilic archaea isolated from 56-years-old Dead Sea brine samples. Syst Appl Microbiol 23:376–385
Arahal DR, Vreeland RH, Litchfield CD, Mormile MR, Tindall BJ, Oren A, Bejar V, Quesada E, Ventosa A (2007) Recommended minimal standards for describing new taxa of the family Halomonadaceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 57:2436–2446
Arun AB, Chen WM, Lai WA, Chou JH, Shen FT, Rekha PD, Young CC (2009) Lutaonella thermophila gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from a coastal hot spring. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 8:2069–2073
Asha Poorna C, Prema P (2007) Production of cellulase-free endoxylanase from novel alkalophilic thermotolerent Bacillus pumilus by solid-state fermentation and its application in wastepaper recycling. Bioresour Technol 98:485–490
Aubert S, Juge C, Boisson AM, Gout E, Bligny R (2007) Metabolic processes sustaining the reviviscence of lichen Xanthoria elegans (Link) in high mountain environments. Planta 226:1287–1297
Averhoff B, Müller V (2010) Exploring research frontiers in microbiology: recent advances in halophilic and thermophilic extremophiles. Res Microbiol 161:506–514
Baker-Austin C, Dopson M (2007) Life in acid: pH homeostasis in acidophiles. Trends Microbiol 15:165–171
Bakermans C, Sloup RE, Zarka DG, Tiedje JM, Thomashow MF (2009) Development and use of genetic system to identify genes required for efficient low-temperature growth of Psychrobacter arcticus 273-4. Extremophiles 13:21–30
Basu S, Sen S (2009) Turning a mesophilic protein into a thermophilic one: a computational approach based on 3D structural features. J Chem Inf Model 49:1741–1750
Bathe S, Norris PR (2007) Ferrous iron- and sulfur-induced genes in Sulfolobus metallicus. Appl Environ Microbiol 73:2491–2497
Battista JR (1997) Against all odds: the survival strategies of Deinococcus radiodurans. Annu Rev Microbiol 51:203–224
Baumer S, Ide T, Jacobi C, Johann A, Gottschalk G, Deppenmeier U (2000) The F420H2 dehydrogenase from Methanosarcina mazei is a redox-driven proton pump closely related to NADH dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem 275:17968–17973
Beblo K, Rabbow E, Rachel R, Huber H, Rettberg P (2009) Tolerance of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms to desiccation. Extremophiles 13:521–531
Billi D, Friedmann EI, Hofer KG, Caiola MG, Ocampo-Friedmann R (2000) Ionizing-radiation resistance in the desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:1489–1492
Billi D, Friedmann EI, Helm RF, Potts M (2001) Gene transfer to the desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis. J Bacteriol 183:2298–2305
Bond PL, Smriga SP, Banfield JF (2000) Phylogeny of microorganisms populating a thick, subaerial, predominantly lithotrophic biofilm at an extreme acid mine drainage site. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:3842–3849
Booth IR (1985) The regulation of intracellular pH in bacteria. Novartis Found Symp 221:19–28
Bornscheuer UT, Bessler C, Srinivas R, Krishna SH (2002) Optimizing lipases and related enzymes for efficient application. Trends Biotechnol 20:433–437
Bowers KJ, Mesbah NM, Wiegel J (2009) Biodiversity of poly-extremophilic bacteria: does combining the extremes of high salt, alkaline pH and elevated temperature approach a physico-chemical boundary for life? Saline Systems 23(5):9
Bowman JP, McCammon SA, Brown MV, Nichols DS, McMeekin TA (1997) Diversity and association of psychrophilic bacteria in Antarctic sea ice. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:3068–3078
Bowman JP, McCammom SA, Brown JL, McMeekin TA (1998) Glaciecola punicea gen. nov., sp. nov. and Glaciecola pallidula gen. nov., sp. nov.: psychrophilic bacteria from Antarctic sea-ice habitats. Int J Syst Bacteriol 48:1213–1222
Branciamore S, Gallori E, Di Giulio M (2008) The basal phylogenetic position of Nanoarchaeum equitans (Nanoarchaeota). Front Biosci 1:6886–6892
Brock TD (1978) Thermophilic microorganisms and life at high temperatures. Springer-Verlag, New York
Bruns A, Berthe-Corti L (2000) Fundibacter jadensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new slightly halophilic bacterium, isolated from intertidal sediment. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49:441–448
Buchalo AS, Nevo E, Wasser SP, Oren A, Molitoris H (1998) Fungal life in the extremely hypersaline water of the Dead Sea: first records. Proc Royal Soc London-Biol Sci 265:1461–1465
Buck DP, Smith GD (1995) Evidence for a Na+/H+ electrogenic antiporter in an alkaliphilic cyanobacterium Synechocystis. FEMS Microbiol Lett 128:315–320
Burghardt T, Junglas B, Siedler F, Wirth R, Huber H, Rachel R (2009) The interaction of Nanoarchaeum equitans with Ignicoccus hospitalis: proteins in the contact site between two cells. Biochem Soc Trans 37:127–132
Bustard MT, Burgess JG, Meeyoo V, Wright PC (2000) Novel opportunities for marine hyperthermophiles in emerging biotechnology and engineering industries. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 75:1095–1109
Cai M, Tang SK, Chen YG, Li Y, Zhang YQ, Li WJ (2009) Streptomonospora amylolytica sp. nov. and Streptomonospora flavalba sp. nov., halophilic actinomycetes isolated from a salt lake. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:2471–2475
Canganella F, Wiegel J (1993) The potential of thermophilic clostridia in biotechnology. In: Woods DR (ed) The clostridia and biotechnology. Butterworths, Stoneham, pp 391–429
Canganella F, Vettraino AM, Trovatelli LD (1995) The extremophilic bacteria—ecology and agroindustrial applications. Ann Microbiol Enzymol 45:173–184
Canovas D, Vargas C, Csonka LN, Ventosa A, Nieto JJ (1996) Osmoprotectants in Halomonas elongata: high-affinity betaine transport system and choline–betaine pathway. J Bacteriol 178:7221–7226
Caplice E, Fitzgerald GF (1999) Food fermentations: role of microorganisms in food production and preservation. Int J Food Microbiol 50:131–149
Cardenas E, Wu WM, Leigh MB, Carley J, Carroll S, Gentry T, Luo J, Watson D, Gu B, Ginder-Vogel M, Kitanidis PK, Jardine PM, Zhou J, Criddle CS, Marsh TL, Tiedje JM (2010) Significant association between sulfate-reducing bacteria and uranium-reducing microbial communities as revealed by a combined massively parallel sequencing-indicator species approach. Appl Environ Microbiol 76:6778–6786
Castro JM, Moore JN (2000) Pit lakes: their characteristics and the potential for their remediation. Environ Geol 39:1254–1260
Cavanaugh CM, Gardiner SL, Jones ML, Jannasch HW, Waterbury JB (1981) Prokaryotic cells in the hydrothermal vent tube worm Riftia pachyptila Jones: possible chemoautotrophic symbionts. Science 213:340–342
Cavicchioli R, Thomas T (2000) Extremophiles in: encyclopedia of microbiology vol 2, 2nd edn. Academic, London, pp 317–337
Chaturvedi P, Prabahar V, Manorama R, Pindi PK, Bhadra B, Begum Z, Shivaji S (2008) Exiguobacterium soli sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2447–2453
Chen YG, Tang SK, Zhang YQ, Liu ZX, Chen QH, He JW, Cui XL, Li WJ (2010) Zhihengliuellasalsuginis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic actinobacterium from a subterranean brine. Extremophiles 14:397–402
Chiuri R, Maiorano G, Rizzello A, Del Mercato LL, Cingolani R, Rinaldi R, Maffia M, Pompa PP (2009) Exploring local flexibility/rigidity in psychrophilic and mesophilic carbonic anhydrases. Biophys J 96:1586–1596
Cockell CS (1999) Life on Venus. Planet Space Sci 47:1487–1501
Cockell CS, Lee P, Osinski G, Horneck G, Broady P (2002) Impact-induced microbial endolithic habitats. Meteor Planet Sci 37:1287–1298
Connaris H, West SM, Hough DW, Danson MJ (1998) Cloning and expression in Escherichia coli of the gene encoding citrate synthase from the hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus. Extremophiles 2:61–68
Conrad R, Seiler W (1982) Utilization of traces of carbon monoxide by aerobic oligotrophic microorganisms in ocean, lake and soil. Arch Microbiol 132:41–46
Cotugno R, Rosaria Ruocco M, Marco S, Falasca P, Evangelista G, Raimo G, Chambery A, Di Maro A, Masullo M, De Vendittis E (2009) Differential cold-adaptation among protein components of the thioredoxin system in the psychrophilic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC 125. Mol Biosyst 5:519–528
Daniel RM (1996) The upper limits of enzyme thermostability. Enzyme Microb Technol 19:74–79
Danson MJ, Hough DW (1997) The structural basis of protein halophilicity. Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol 117:307–312
Das T, Ayyappan S, Chaudhury GR (1999) Factors affecting bioleaching kinetics of sulfide ores using acidophilic micro-organisms. Biometals 12:1–10
Delong EF, Franks DG, Yayanos AA (1997) Evolutionary relationships of cultivated psychrophilic and barophilic deep-sea bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 63:2105–2108
Deppenmeier U, Mülle V, Gottschalk G (1996) Pathways of energy conservation in methanogenic archaea. Arch Microbiol 165:149–163
Deppenmeier U, Lienard T, Gottschalk G (1999) Novel reactions involved in energy conservation by methanogenic archaea. FEBS Lett 457:291–297
Deutch CE (1994) Characterization of a novel salt-tolerant Bacillus sp. from the nasal cavities of desert iguanas. FEMS Microbiol Lett 121:55–60
Dopson M (2011) Ecology, adaptations, and applications of acidophiles. In: Anitori R (ed) Extremophiles: microbiology and biotechnology. Horizon press (in press)
Dopson M, Baker-Austin C, Hind A, Bowman JP, Bond PL (2004) Characterization of Ferroplasma Isolates and Ferroplasma acidarmanus sp. nov., extreme acidophiles from acid mine drainage and industrial bioleaching environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 70:2079–2088
Doronina NV, Trotsenko YA, Tourova TP (2000) Methylarcula marina gen. nov., sp. nov. and Methylarcula terricola sp. nov.: novel aerobic, moderately halophilic, facultatively methylotrophic bacteria from coastal saline environments. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:1849–1859
Drees KP, Neilson JW, Betancourt JL, Quade J, Henderson DA, Pryor BM, Maier RM (2006) Bacterial community structure in the hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, Chile. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:7902–7908
Duckworth AW, Grant WD, Jones BE, Van Steenbergen R (1996) Phylogenetic diversity of soda lake alkaliphiles. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 19:181–191
Eddy ML, Jablonski PE (2000) Purification and characterization of a membrane-associated ATPase from Natronococcus occultus, a haloalkaliphilic archaeon. FEMS Microbiol Lett 189:211–214
Edwards HGM (2004) Raman spectroscopic protocol for the molecular recognition of key biomarkers in astrobiological exploration. Orig Life Evol Biosph 34:3–11
Edwards HG, Vandenabeele P, Jorge-Villar SE, Carter EA, Perez FR, Hargreaves MD (2007) The Rio Tinto Mars analogue site: an extremophilic Raman spectroscopic study. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 68:1133–1137
Eisenberg H (1995) Life in unusual environments: progress in understanding the structure and function of enzymes from extreme halophilic bacteria. Arch Biochem Biophys 318:1–5
Empadinhas N, Da Costa MS (2008) Osmoadaptation mechanisms in prokaryotes: distribution of compatible solutes. Internat Microbiology 11:151–161
Evangelista G, Falasca P, Ruggiero I, Masullo M, Raimo G (2009) Molecular and functional characterization of polynucleotide phosphorylase from the Antarctic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis. Protein Pept Lett 16:999–1005
Fajardo-Cavazos P, Nicholson WL (2000) The TRAP-like SplA protein is a trans-acting negative regulator of spore photoproduct lyase synthesis during Bacillus subtilis sporulation. J Bacteriol 182:555–560
Fang J, Barcelona MJ, Nogi Y, Kato C (2000) Biochemical implications and geochemical significance of novel phospholipids of the extremely barophilic bacteria from the Marianas Trench at 11,000 m. Deep Sea Res I Oceanogr Res Pap 47:1173–1182
Fardeau ML, Barsotti V, Cayol JL, Guasco S, Michotey V, Joseph M, Bonin P, Ollivier B (2010) Caldinitratiruptor microaerophilus, gen. nov., sp. nov. isolated from a French hot spring (Chaudes-Aigues, Massif Central): a novel cultivated facultative microaerophilic anaerobic thermophile pertaining to the symbiobacterium branch within the Firmicutes. Extremophiles 14:241–247
Fegatella F, Cavicchioli R (2000) Physiological responses to starvation in the marine oligotrophic ultramicrobacterium Sphingomonas sp. strain RB2256. App Env Microbiol 66:2037–2044
Fendrihan S, Bérces A, Lammer H, Musso M, Rontó G, Polacsek TK, Holzinger A, Kolb C, Stan-Lotter H (2009) Investigating the effects of simulated Martian ultraviolet radiation on Halococcus dombrowskii and other extremely halophilic archaebacteria. Astrobiology 9:104–112
Francis AJ, Dodge CJ, Gillow JB, Papenguth HW (2000) Biotransformation of uranium compounds in high ionic strength brine by a halophilic bacterium under denitrifying conditions. Env Sci Tech 34:2311–2317
Friedman EI, Hua MS, Ocampo-Friedman R (1988) Cryptoendolithic lichen and cyanobacterial communities of the Ross Desert, Antarctica. Polarforschung 58:251–259
Friedmann EI (1982) Endolithic microorganisms in the Antarctic cold desert. Science 215:1045–1053
Galinski EA, Trüper HG (1994) Microbial behaviour in salt-stressed ecosystems. FEMS Microbiol Rev 15:95–108
Garabito MJ, Arahal DR, Mellado E, Marquez MC, Ventosa A (1997) Bacillus salexigens sp. nov., a new moderately halophilic Bacillus species. Int J Syst Bacteriol 47:735–741
Gemmell RT, Knowles CJ (2000) Utilisation of aliphatic compounds by acidophilic heterotrophic bacteria. The potential for bioremediation of acidic wastewaters contaminated with toxic organic compounds and heavy metals. FEMS Microbiol Lett 192:85–190
Gerday C, Aittaleb M, Arpigny JL, Baise E, Chessa J-P, Garsoux G, Petrescu I, Feller G (1997) Psychrophilic enzymes: a thermodynamic challenge. Biochim et Biophys Acta-Protein Struc Mol Enzymol 1342:119–131
Golyshina OV, Pivovarova TA, Karavaido GI, Kondrat’eva TF, Moore ERB, Abraham WR, Lunsdorf H, Timmis KN, Yakimov MM, Golyshin PN (2000) Ferroplasma acidiphilum gen. nov., sp. nov., an acidophilic, autotrophic, ferrous-iron-oxidizing, cell-wall-lacking, mesophilic member of the Ferroplasmaceae fam. nov., comprising a distinct lineage of the Archaea. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:997–1006
Gorbushina A (2003) Microcolonial fungi: survival potential of terrestrial vegetative structures. Astrobiology 3:543–554
Gorbushina A, Broughton WJ (2009) Microbiology of the atmosphere–rock interface: how biological interactions and physical stresses modulate a sophisticated microbial ecosystem. Annu Rev Microbiol 63:431–450
Grant WD (1988) Bacteria from alkaline, saline environments and their potential in biotechnology. J Chem Technol Biotech 42:291–294
Grant WD, Mwatha WE, Jones BE (1990) Alkaliphiles: ecology, diversity and applications. FEMS Microbiol Rev 75:255–270
Guan TW, Tang SK, Wu JY, Zhi XY, Xu LH, Zhang LL, Li WJ (2009) Haloglycomyces albus gen. nov., sp. nov., a halophilic, filamentous actinomycete of the family Glycomycetaceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1297–1301
Gyure RA, Konopka A, Brooks A, Doemel W (1987) Algal and bacterial activities in acidic (pH 3) strip mine lakes. Appl Environ Microbiol 53:2069–2076
Hayakawa J, Kondoh Y, Ishizuka M (2009) Cloning and characterization of flagellin genes and identification of flagellin glycosylation from thermophilic Bacillus species. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 73:1450–1452
Heber U, Bilger W, Türk R, Lange OL (2009) Photoprotection of reaction centres in photosynthetic organisms: mechanisms of thermal energy dissipation in desiccated thalli of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria. New Phytol 185:459–470
Heipieper HJ, Diefenbach R, Keweloh H (1992) Conversion of cis unsaturated fatty acids to trans, a possible mechanism for the protection of phenol-degrading Pseudomonas putida P8 from substrate toxicity. Appl Environ Microbiol 58:1847–1852
Heise R, Müller V, Gottschalk G (1992) Acetogenesis and ATP synthesis in Acetobacterium woodii are coupled via a transmembrane primary sodium-ion gradient. FEMS Microbiol Lett 112:261–268
Hezayen FF, Rehm BHA, Eberhardt R, Steinbuchel A (2000) Polymer production by two newly isolated extremely halophilic archaea: application of a novel corrosion-resistant bioreactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 54:319–325
Hirayama H, Takami H, Inoue A, Horikoshi K (1998) Isolation and characterization of toluene-sensitive mutants from Pseudomonas putida IH-2000. FEMS Microbiol Lett 169:219–225
Hoiczyk E, Hansel A (2000) Cyanobacterial cell walls: news from an unusual prokaryotic envelope. J Bacteriol 182:1191–1199
Hong MR, Kim YS, Park CS, Lee JK, Kim YS, Oh DK (2009) Characterization of a recombinant beta-glucosidase from the thermophilic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus. J Biosci Bioeng 108:36–40
Horikoshi K (1971) Production of alkaline enzymes by alkalophilic microorganisms I. Alkaline protease produced by Bacillus no. 221. Agric Biol Chem 35:1407–1414
Horikoshi K (1996) Alkaliphiles from an industrial point of view. FEMS Microbiol Rev 18:259–270
Horikoshi K (1998) Introduction. In: Horikoshi K, Grant WD (eds) Extremophiles: microbial life in extreme environments. Wiley-Liss, New York
Horneck G, Rettberg P, Reitz G, Wehner J, Eschweiler U, Strauch K, Panitz C, Starke V, Baumstark-Khan C (2001) Protection of bacterial spores in space, a contribution to the discussion on Panspermia. Orig Life Evol Biosph 31:527–547
Hou S, Makarova KS, Saw JH, Senin P, Ly BV, Zhou Z, Ren Y, Wang J, Galperin MY, Omelchenko MV, Wolf YI, Yutin N, Koonin EV, Stott MB, Mountain BW, Crowe MA, Smirnova AV, Dunfield PF, Feng L, Wang L, Alam M (2008) Complete genome sequence of the extremely acidophilic methanotroph isolate V4, Methylacidiphilum infernorum, a representative of the bacterial phylum Verrucomicrobia. Biol Direct 3:26–35
Hua X, Wang C, Zhao Y, Wang H, Huang L, Xu G, Li M, Wang Y, Tian B, Hua Y (2010) Both OB folds of single-stranded DNA-binding protein are essential for its ssDNA binding activity in Deinococcus radiodurans. Protein Pept Lett 17:1189–1197
Huber H, Stetter KO (1998) Hyperthermophiles and their possible potential in biotechnology. J Biotechnol 64:39–52
Huber R, Rossnagel P, Woese CR, Rachel R, Langworthy TA, Stetter KO (1996) Formation of ammonium from nitrate during chemolithoautotrophic growth of the extremely thermophilic bacterium Ammonifex degensii gen. nov., sp. nov. Syst Appl Microbiol 19:40–49
Imhoff JF, Trüper HG (1977) Ectothiorhodospira halochloris sp. nov., a new extremely halophilic phototrophic bacterium containing bacteriochlorophyll b. Arch Microbiol 114:115–121
Imhoff JF, Hashwa F, Trüper HG (1978) Isolation of extremely halophilic phototrophic bacteria from the alkaline Wadi Natrun, Egypt. Arch Hydrobiol 84:381–388
Inoue A, Horikoshi K (1989) A Pseudomonas thrives in high concentrations of toluene. Nature 338:264–266
Javaux EJ (2006) Extreme life on Earth—past, present and possibly beyond. Res Microbiol 157:37–48
Johnson DB (1995) Acidophilic microbial communities: candidates for bioremediation of acidic mine effluents. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 35:41–58
Johnson DB (1998) Biodiversity and ecology of acidophilic microorganisms. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 27:307–317
Johnson DB (2001) Importance of microbial ecology in the development of new mineral technologies. Hydrometal 59:147–157
Johnson DB, Hallberg KB (2008) Carbon, iron and sulfur metabolism in acidophilic microorganisms. Adv Microb Physiol 54:201–255
Johnson DB, Rang L (1993) Effects of acidophilic protozoa on populations of metal-mobilising bacteria during the leaching of pyritic coal. J Gen Microbiol 139:1417–1423
Johnson DB, Bacelar-Nicolau P, Okibe N, Thomas A, Hallberg KB (2009) Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum gen. nov., sp. nov. and Ferrithrix thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov.: heterotrophic, iron-oxidizing, extremely acidophilic actinobacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1082–1089
Jones BE, Grant WD, Duckworth AW, Owenson GG (1998) Microbial diversity of soda lakes. Extremophiles 2:191–200
Jonsson AV, Moen J, Palmqvist K (2008) Predicting lichen hydration using biophysical models. Oecologia 156:259–273
Joux F, Jeffrey WH, Lebaron P, Mitchell DL (1999) Marine bacterial isolates display diverse responses to UV-B radiation. App Env Microbiol 65:3820–3827
Jr McSween HY (2006) Water on Mars. Elements 2:135–136
Kaieda N, Wakagi T, Koyama N (1998) Presence of Na+-stimulated V-type ATPase in the membrane of a facultatively anaerobic and halophilic alkaliphile. FEMS Microbiol Lett 167:57–61
Kamekura M (1998) Diversity of extremely halophilic bacteria. Extremophiles 2:289–295
Kamekura M, Dyall-Smith ML, Upasan V, Ventosa A, Kates M (1997) Diversity of alkaliphilic halobacteria: proposals for the transfer of Natronobacterium vacuolatum, Natronobacterium magadii, and Natronobacterium pharaonis to the genus Halorubrum, Natrialba, and Natronomonas gen. nov., respectively as Halorubrum vacuolatum comb. nov., Natrialba magadii comb. nov., and Natronomonas pharaonis comb. nov., respectively. Int J Syst Bacteriol 47:853–857
Kämpfer P, Rainey FA, Andersson MA, Lassila E-LN, Ulrych U, Busse J-J, Weiss N, Mikkola R, Salkinoja-Salonen M (2000) Frigoribacterium faeni gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel psychrophilic genus of the family Microbacteriaceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:355–363
Kargi F, Dincer AR (1998) Saline wastewater treatment by halophile-supplemented activated sludge culture in an aerated rotating biodisc contactor. Enz Microbial Tech 22:427–433
Kargi F, Dincer AR (2000) Use of halophilic bacteria in biological treatment of saline wastewater by fed-batch operation. Water Environ Res 72:170–174
Kaszycki P, Czechowska K, Petryszak P, Miedzobrodzki J, Pawlik B, Kołoczek H (2006) Methylotrophic extremophilic yeast Trichosporon sp.: a soil-derived isolate with potential applications in environmental biotechnology. Acta Biochim Pol 53:463–473
Kato C, Inoue A, Horikoshi K (1996a) Isolating and characterizing deep-sea marine microorganisms. Trends Biotech 14:6–12
Kato C, Masui N, Horikoshi K (1996b) Properties of obligately barophilic bacteria isolated from a sample of deep-sea sediment from the Izu-Bonin trench. J Mar Biotechnol 4:96–99
Kato C, Li L, Nogi Y, Nakamura Y, Tamaoka J, Horikoshi K (1998) Extremely barophilic bacteria isolated from the Marianas Trench, Challenger Deep, at a depth of 11,000 meters. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:1510–1513
Khelifi N, Ben Romdhane E, Hedi A, Postec A, Fardeau ML, Hamdi M, Tholozan JL, Ollivier B, Hirschler-Réa A (2010) Characterization of Microaerobacter geothermalis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel microaerophilic, nitrate- and nitrite-reducing thermophilic bacterium isolated from a terrestrial hot spring in Tunisia. Extremophiles 14:297–304
Khmelenina VN, Kalyuzhnaya MG, Sakharovsky VG, Suzina NE, Trotsenko YA, Gottschalk G (1999) Osmoadaptation in halophilic and alkaliphilic methanotrophs. Arch Microbiol 172:321–329
Kieboom J, Dennis JJ, De Bont JAM, Zylstra GJ (1998) Identification and molecular characterization of an efflux pump involved in Pseudomonas putida S12 solvent tolerance. J Biol Chem 273:85–91
Kim HJ, Park S, Lee JM, Park S, Jung W, Kang JS, Joo HM, Seo KW, Kang SH (2008) Moritella dasanensis sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from the Arctic ocean. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:817–820
Kim CS, Pierre B, Ostermeier M, Looger LL, Kim JR (2009) Enzyme stabilization by domain insertion into a thermophilic protein. Protein Eng Des Sel 22:615–623
Knoblauch C, Sahm K, Jorgensen BB (1999) Psychrophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria isolated from permanently cold Arctic marine sediments: description of Desulfofrigus oceanense gen. nov., sp. nov., Desulfofrigus fragile sp. nov., Desulfofaba gelida gen. nov., sp. nov., Desulfotalea psychropilia gen. nov., sp. nov. and Desulfotalea arctica sp. nov. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49:1631–1643
Knowles EJ, Castenholz RW (2008) Effect of exogenous extracellular polysaccharides on the desiccation and freezing tolerance of rock-inhabiting phototrophic microorganisms. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 66:261–270
Kobayashi T, Kimura B, Fujii T (2000) Haloanaerobium fermentans sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic, fermentative halophile isolated from fermented puffer fish ovaries. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:1621–1627
Kotelnikova S, Pedersen K (1997) Evidence for methanogenic Archaea and homoacetogenic bacteria in deep granitic rock aquifers. FEMS Microbiol Rev 20:339–349
Koyama N (1999) Presence of Na+-stimulated P-type ATPase in the membrane of a facultatively anaerobic alkaliphile, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum. Curr Microbiol 39:27–30
Kristjansson JK (ed) (1992) Thermophilic bacteria. CRC, Boca Raton
Krulwich TA (1986) Bioenergetics of alkalophilic bacteria. J Membr Biol 89:113–125
Krulwich TA, Guffanati AA (1989) Alkaliphilic bacteria. Ann Rev Microbiol 43:435–463
Krulwich TA, Ito M, Gilmour R, Sturr MG, Guffanti AA, Hicks DB (1996) Energetic problems of extremely alkaliphilic aerobes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1275:21–26
Kumar CG, Takagi H (1999) Microbial alkaline proteases: from a bioindustrial viewpoint. Biotech Adv 17:561–594
Kumar P, Islam A, Ahmad F, Satyanarayana T (2009) Characterization of a neutral and thermostable glucoamylase from the thermophilic mold Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae: activity, stability, and structural correlation. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 160:879–890
Kundu S, Roy D (2009) Comparative structural studies of psychrophilic and mesophilic protein homologues by molecular dynamics simulation. J Mol Graph Model 27:871–880
Larsen H (1962) Halophilism. In: Gunsalus IC, Stanier RY (eds) The bacteria. vol. 4. Academic, New York, pp 297–342
Larson AD, Kallio RE (1954) Purification and properties of a bacterial urease. J Bacteriol 68:67–73
Lauro FM, McDougald D, Thomas T, Williams TJ, Egan S, Rice S, DeMaere MZ, Ting L, Ertan H, Johnson J, Ferriera S, Lapidus A, Anderson I, Kyrpides N, Munk AC, Detter C, Han CS, Brown MV, Robb FT, Kjelleberg S, Cavicchioli R (2009) The genomic basis of trophic strategy in marine bacteria. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:15527–15533
Lawson PA, Deutch CE, Collins MD (1996) Phylogenetic characterization of a novel salt-tolerant Bacillus species: description of Bacillus dipsosauri sp. nov. J Appl Bacteriol 81:109–112
Le Borgne S, Paniagua D, Vazquez-Duhalt R (2008) Biodegradation of organic pollutants by halophilic bacteria and Archaea. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 15:74–92
Leduc LG, Ferroni GD (1994) The chemolithotrophic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans. FEMS Microbiol Rev 14:103–120
Leigh JA, Wolfe RS (1983) Acetogenium kivui gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic acetogenic bacterium. Int J Syst Bacteriol 33:886–889
Lentzen G, Schwarz T (2006) Extremolytes: natural compounds from extremophiles for versatile applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 72:623–634
Lettinga G, Rebac S, Parshina S, Nozhevnikova A, Van Lier JB, Stams AJM (1999) High-rate anaerobic treatment of wastewater at low temperatures. App Env Microbiol 65:1696–1702
Leveau JH, Uroz S, De Boer W (2009) The bacterial genus Collimonas: mycophagy, weathering and other adaptive solutions to life in oligotrophic soil environments. Environ Microbiol 12:281–292
Li X-Z, Poole K (1999) Organic solvent-tolerant mutants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa display multiple antibiotic resistance. Can J Microbiol 45:18–22
Lien T, Madsen M, Rainey FA, Birkeland N-K (1998) Petrotoga mobilis sp. nov., from a North Sea oil-production well. Int J Syst Bacteriol 48:1007–1013
Litchfield CD (1998) Survival strategies for microorganisms in hypersaline environments and their relevance to life on early Mars. Meteorit Planet Sci 33:813–819
Lopez-Archilla AI, Marin I, Amils R (1995) Microbial ecology of an acidic river: biotechnological applications. In: Vargas T, Jerez CA, Wiertz JV, Toledo H (eds) Biohydrometallurgical processing II. University of Chile, Santiago, pp 63–74
Ma Y, Galinski EA, Grant WD, Oren A, Ventosa A (2010) Halophiles 2010: life in saline environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 76(21):6971–6981. doi:10.1128/AEM.01868-10
MacElroy M (1974) Some comments on the evolution of extremophiles. Biosystems 6:74–75
Margesin R, Fell JW (2008) Mrakiella cryoconiti gen. nov., sp. nov., a psychrophilic, anamorphic, basidiomycetous yeast from alpine and Arctic habitats. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2977–2982
Margesin R, Schinner F (1998) Low-temperature bioremediation of a waste water contaminated with anionic surfactant and fuel oil. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 49:482–486
Marion GM, Fritsen CH, Eicken H, Payne MC (2003) The search for life on Europa: limiting environmental factors, potential habitats, and Earth analogues. Astrobiology 3:785–811
Marteinsson VT, Birrien J-L, Reysenbach A-L, Vernet M, Marie D, Gambacorta A, Messner P, Sleytr UB, Prieur D (1999) Thermococcus barophilus sp. nov., a new barophilic and hyperthermophilic archaeon isolated under high hydrostatic pressure from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Int J Syst Bacteriol 49:351–359
Maruyama A, Honda D, Yamamoto H, Kitamura K, Higashihara T (2000) Phylogenetic analysis of psychrophilic bacteria isolated from the Japan trench, including a description of the deep-sea species Psychrobacter pacificensis, sp. nov. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:835–846
Mata JA, Béjar V, Bressollier P, Tallon R, Urdaci MC, Quesada E, Llamas I (2008) Characterization of exopolysaccharides produced by three moderately halophilic bacteria belonging to the family Alteromonadaceae. J Appl Microbiol 105:521–528
Matsuo S, Shirai H, Takada Y (2010) Isocitrate dehydrogenase isozymes from a psychrotrophic bacterium, Pseudomonas psychrophila. Arch Microbiol 192:639–650
McCliment EA, Voglesonger KM, O'Day PA, Dunn EE, Holloway JR, Cary SC (2006) Colonization of nascent, deep-sea hydrothermal vents by a novel archaeal and nanoarchaeal assemblage. Environ Microbiol 8:114–125
McGenity TJ (2010) Halophilic hydrocarbon degraders. In: Timmis KN (ed) Handbook of hydrocarbon and lipid microbiology. Springer, Berlin, pp 1939–1951
McGenity TJ, Gemmell RT, Grant WD, Stan-Lotter H (2000) Origins of halophilic microorganisms in ancient salt deposits. Environ Microbiol 2:243–250
Mesbah NM, Wiegel J (2008) Life at extreme limits. The anaerobic halophilic alkalithermophiles. Ann NY Acad Sci 1125:44–57
Mesbah N, Cook G, Wiegel J (2009) The halophilic alkalithermophile Natranaerobius thermophilus adapts to multiple environmental extremes using a large repertoire of Na+ (K+)/H+ antiporters. Mol Microbiol 74:270–281
Mevs U, Stackebrandt E, Schumann P, Gallikowski CA, Hirsch P (2000) Modestobacter multiseptatus gen. nov., sp. nov., a budding actinomycete from soils of the Asgard range (Transantarctic Mountains). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:337–346
Mori K, Yamaguchi K, Sakiyama Y, Urabe T, Suzuki KI (2009) Caldisericum exile gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic, thermophilic, filamentous bacterium of a novel bacterial phylum, Caldiseria phyl. nov., originally called candidate phylum OP5. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.010033-0
Mountfort DO, Rainey FA, Burghardt J, Kaspar HF, Stackebrandt E (1997) Clostridium vincentii sp. nov., a new obligately anaerobic, saccharolytic, psychrophilic bacterium isolated from low-salinity pond sediment of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Arch Microbiol 167:54–60
Mountfort DO, Rainey FA, Burghardt J, Kaspar HF, Stackebrandt E (1998) Psychromonas antarcticus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new aerotolerant anaerobic, halophilic psychrophile isolated from pond sediment of the McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Arch Microbiol 169:231–238
Nagasaka S, Yoshimura E (2008) External iron regulates polyphosphate content in the acidophilic, thermophilic alga Cyanidium caldarium. Biol Trace Elem Res 125:286–289
Nakajima H, Kobayashi K, Kobayashi M, Asako H, Aono R (1995) Overexpression of the robA gene increases organic solvent tolerance and multiple antibiotic and heavy metal ion resistance in Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol 61:2302–2307
Nakamura S, Wakabayashi K, Nakai R, Aono R, Horikoshi K (1993) Purification and some properties of an alkaline xylanase from alkalophilic Bacillus sp. strain 41M-1. Appl Environ Microbiol 59:2311–2316
Nikaido H (1996) Multidrug efflux pumps of gram-negative bacteria. J Bacteriol 178:5853–5859
Norris PR, Johnson DB (1998) Acidophilic microorganisms. In: Horikoshi K, Grant WD (eds) Microbial life in extreme environments. Wiley, New York, pp 133–154
Oethinger M, Kern WV, Goldman JD, Levy SB (1998) Association of organic solvent tolerance and fluoroquinolone resistance in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli. J Antimicrob Chemother 41:111–114
Ogg C, Patel BK (2009) Sporolituus thermophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a citrate-fermenting, thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium from geothermal waters of the Great Artesian Basin of Australia. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:2848–2853
Ollivier B, Caumette P, Garcia J-L, Mah RA (1994) Anaerobic bacteria from hypersaline environments. Microbiol Rev 58:27–38
Ollivier B, Fardeau ML, Cayol JL, Magot M, Patel BKC, Frensier G, Garcia J-L (1998) Methanocalculus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an oil-producing well. Int J Syst Bacteriol 48:821–828
Olsson-Francis K, De la Torre R, Cockell CS (2010) Isolation of novel extreme-tolerant cyanobacteria from a rock-dwelling microbial community by using exposure to low Earth orbit. Appl Environ Microbiol 76:2115–2121
Onofri S, Selbmann L, Zucconi L, Pagano S (2004) Antarctic microfungi as models for exobiology. Planet Space Sci 52:229–237
Orange F, Westall F, Disnar JR, Prieur D, Bienvenu N, Le Romancer M, Défarge Ch (2009) Experimental silicification of the extremophilic Archaea Pyrococcus abyssi and Methanocaldococcus jannaschii: applications in the search for evidence of life in early Earth and extraterrestrial rocks. Geobiology 7:403–418
Oren A (2006) Life at high salt conditions. In: Dworkin M, Falkow S, Rosenberg E, Schleifer K-H, Stackebrandt E (eds) The prokaryotes. A handbook on the biology of bacteria: ecophysiology and biochemistry, volume 2. Springer, New York, pp 263–282
Oren A, Ventosa A, Grant WD (1997) Proposed minimal standards for description of new taxa in the order Halobacteriales. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 47:233–238
Oshima T, Moriya T (2008) A preliminary analysis of microbial and biochemical properties of high-temperature compost. Ann NY Acad Sci 1125:338–344
Ozturk S, Aslim B (2009) Modification of exopolysaccharide composition and production by three cyanobacterial isolates under salt stress. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 17:595–602
Padan E, Bibi E, Ito M, Krulwich TA (2005) Alkaline pH homeostasin bacteria: new insights. Biochim Biophys Acta: Biomembr 1717:67–88
Paerl HW, Priscu JC (1998) Microbial phototrophic, heterotrophic, and diazotrophic activities associated with aggregates in the permanent ice cover of Lake Bonney, Antarctica. Microb Ecol 36:221–230
Panda SK, Jyoti V, Bhadra B, Nayak KC, Shivaji S, Rainey FA, Das SK (2009) Thiomonas bhubaneswarensis sp. nov., a novel obligately mixotrophic, moderately thermophilic, thiosulfate oxidizing bacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:2171–2175
Patching JW, Eardly D (1997) Bacterial biomass and activity in the deep waters of the eastern Atlantic—evidence of a barophilic community. Deep Sea Res I Oceanogr Res Pap 44:1655–1670
Paulsen IT, Brown MH, Skurray RA (1996) Proton-dependent multidrug efflux systems. Microbiol Rev 60:575–608
Phillips RW, Wiegel J, Berry CY, Fliermans C, Peacock AD, White DC, Shimkets LJ (2002) Kineococcus radiotolerans sp. nov. a radiation-resistant, Gram positive bacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52:933–938
Pinkart HC, Wolfram JW, Rogers R, White DC (1996) Cell envelope changes in solvent-tolerant and solvent-sensitive Pseudomonas putida strains following exposure to o-xylene. Appl Environ Microbiol 62:1129–1132
Pledger RJ, Crump BC, Baross JA (1994) A barophilic response by two hyperthermophilic, hydrothermal vent archaea: an upward shift in the optimal temperature and acceleration of growth rate at supra-optimal temperatures by elevated pressure. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 14:233–242
Podar M, Anderson I, Makarova KS, Elkins JG, Ivanova N, Wall MA, Lykidis A, Mavromatis K, Sun Sun H, Hudson ME, Chen W, Deciu C, Hutchison D, Eads JR, Anderson A, Fernandes F, Szeto E, Lapidus A, Kyrpides NC, Saier MH Jr, Richardson PM, Rachel R, Huber H, Eisen JA, Koonin EV, Keller M, Stetter KO (2008) A genomic analysis of the archaeal system Ignicoccus hospitalis–Nanoarchaeum equitans. Genome Biol 9:R158
Poli A, Esposito E, Orlando P, Lama L, Giordano A, De Appolonia F, Nicolaus B, Gambacorta A (2007) Halomonas alkaliantarctica sp. nov., isolated from saline lake Cape Russell in Antarctica, an alkalophilic moderately halophilic, exopolysaccharide-producing bacterium. Syst Appl Microbiol 30:31–38
Poli A, Romano I, Cordella P, Orlando P, Nicolaus B, Ceschi Berrini C (2009) Anoxybacillus thermarum sp. nov., a novel thermophilic bacterium isolated from thermal mud in Euganean hot springs, Abano Terme, Italy. Extremophiles 13:867–874
Prevost S, Andre S, Remize F (2010) PCR detection of thermophilic spore-forming bacteria involved in canned food spoilage. Curr Microbiol 61:525–533
Prieur D, Erauso G, Jeanthon C (1995) Hyperthermophilic life at deep-sea hydrothermal vents. Planet Space Sci 43:115–122
Quillaguamán J, Guzmán H, Van-Thuoc D, Hatti-Kaul R (2009) Synthesis and production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by halophiles: current potential and future prospects. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 104:420–428
Rainey FA, Donnison AM, Janssen PH, Saul D, Rodrigo A, Bergquist PL, Daniel RM, Stackebrandt E, Morgan HW (1994) Description of Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus gen. nov., sp. nov: an obligately anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, cellulolytic bacterium. FEMS Microbiol Lett 120:263–266
Ramos J-L, Duque E, Rodriguez-Herva JJ, Godoy P, Haidour A, Reyes F, Fernandez-Barrero A (1997) Mechanisms for solvent tolerance in bacteria. J Biol Chem 272:3887–3890
Ramos J-L, Duque E, Godoy P, Segura A (1998) Efflux pumps involved in toluene tolerance in Pseudomonas putida DOT-T1E. J Bacteriol 180:3323–3329
Rawlings DE, Johnson DB (2007) The microbiology of biomining: development and optimization of mineral-oxidizing microbial consortia. Microbiology 153:315–324
Ray MK, Kumar GS, Janiyani K, Kannan K, Jagtap P, Basu MK, Shivaji S (1998) Adaptation to low temperature and regulation of gene expression in Antarctic psychrotrophic bacteria. J Biosci 23:423–435
Rettberg P, Rabbow E, Panitz C, Horneck G (2004) Biological space experiments for the simulation of Martian conditions: UV radiation and Martian soil analogues. Adv Space Res 33:1294–1301
Roberts MF (2005) Organic compatible solutes of halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms. Saline Systems 4(1):5
Robidart JC, Bench SR, Feldman RA, Novoradovsky A, Podell SB, Gaasterland T, Allen EE, Felbeck H (2008) Metabolic versatility of the Riftia pachyptila endosymbiont revealed through metagenomics. Environ Microbiol 10:727–737
Roeßler M, Müller V (2002) Chloride, a new environmental signal molecule involved in gene regulation in a moderately halophilic bacterium, Halobacillus halophilus. J Bacteriol 184:6207–6215
Romano I, Dipasquale L, Orlando P, Lama L, d'Ippolito G, Pascual J, Gambacorta A (2010) Thermoanaerobacterium thermostercus sp. nov., a new anaerobic thermophilic hydrogen-producing bacterium from buffalo-dung. Extremophiles 14:233–240
Rossi M, Buzzini P, Cordisco L, Amaretti A, Sala M, Raimondi S, Ponzoni C, Pagnoni UM, Matteuzzi D (2009) Growth, lipid accumulation, and fatty acid composition in obligate psychrophilic, facultative psychrophilic, and mesophilic yeasts. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 69:362–373
Ruger H-J, Fritze D, Sproer C (2000) New psychrophilic and psychrotolerant Bacillus marinus strains from tropical and polar deep-sea sediments and emended description of the species. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 50:1305–1313
Russell NJ (1997) Psychrophilic bacteria—molecular adaptations of membrane lipids. Comp Biochem Physiol A Physiol 118:489–493
Salameh MA, Wiegel J (2007) Lipases from extremophiles and potential for industrial applications. Adv Appl Microbiol Chapter 7 61:253–283
Sancho LG, De la Torre R, Horneck G, Ascaso C, De Los RA, Pintado A, Wierzchos J, Schuster M (2007) Lichens survive in space: results from the 2005 LICHENS experiment. Astrobiology 7:443–454
Sardessai Y, Bhosle S (2002) Tolerance of bacteria to organic solvents. Res Microbiol 153:263–268
Sardessai YN, Bhosle S (2004) Industrial potential of organic solvent tolerant bacteria. Biotechnol Prog 20:655–660
Sass H, Berchtold M, Branke J, Konig H, Cypionka H, Babenzien H-D (1998) Psychrotolerant sulfate-reducing bacteria from an oxic freshwater sediment, description of Desulfovibrio cuneatus sp. nov. and Desulfovibrio litoralis sp. nov. Syst Appl Microbiol 21:212–219
Schleper C, Puehler G, Kuhlmorgen B, Zillig W (1995) Life at extremely low pH. Nature 375:741–742
Schut F, Prins RA, Gottschal JC (1997) Oligotrophy and pelagic marine bacteria: facts and fiction. Aquat Microb Ecol 12:177–202
Sellek GA, Chaudhuri JB (1999) Biocatalysis in organic media using enzymes from extremophiles. Enz Microbial Tech 25:471–482
Semenov AM (1991) Physiological bases of oligotrophy of microorganisms and the concept of microbial community. Microb Ecol 22:239–247
Setlow P (1994) Mechanisms which contribute to the long-term survival of spores of Bacillus species. J Appl Bacteriol Symp Suppl 76:49S–60S
Shashidhar R, Bandekar JR (2009) Deinococcus piscis sp. nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from a marine fish. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:2714–2717
Shiratori H, Sasaya K, Ohiwa H, Ikeno H, Ayame S, Kataoka N, Miya A, Beppu T, Ueda K (2009) Clostridium clariflavum sp. nov. and Clostridium caenicola sp. nov., moderately thermophilic, cellulose-/cellobiose-digesting bacteria isolated from methanogenic sludge. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1764–1770
Shivaji S, Bhadra B, Rao RS, Pradhan S (2008) Rhodotorula himalayensis sp. nov., a novel psychrophilic yeast isolated from Roopkund Lake of the Himalayan mountain ranges, India. Extremophiles 12:375–381
Shock EL (1997) High temperature life without photosynthesisias a model for Mars. J Geophys Res Planets 102:23687–23694
Shumkova GA, Papova LG, Balnokin YV (2000) Export of Na+ from cells of the halotolerant microalga Dunaliella maritima: Na+/H+ antiporter or primary Na+-pump? Biochem-Moscow 65:917–923
Shuryak I, Brenner DJ (2010) Effects of radiation quality on interactions between oxidative stress, protein and DNA damage in Deinococcus radiodurans. Radiat Environ Biophys 49:693–703
Siebert J, Hirsch P, Hoffmann B, Gliesche CG, Peissl K, Jendrach M (1996) Cryptoendolithic microorganisms from Antarctic sandstone of Linnaeus Terrace (Asgard Range): diversity, properties and interactions. Biodivers Conserv 5:1337–1363
Singh G, Ahuja N, Batish M, Capalash N, Sharma P (2008) Biobleaching of wheat straw-rich soda pulp with alkalophilic laccase from gamma-proteobacterium JB: optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology. Bioresour Technol 99:7472–7479
Skidmore ML, Foght JM, Sharp MJ (2000) Microbial life beneath a high Arctic glacier. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:3214–3220
Smith MC, Bowman JP, Scott FJ, Line MA (2000) Sublithic bacteria associated with Antarctic quartz stones. Antarct Sci 12:177–184
Smith DJ, Schuerger AC, Davidson MM, Pacala SW, Bakermans C, Onstott TC (2009) Survivability of Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5 under simulated Martian surface conditions. Astrobiology 9:221–228
Sorokin DY, Muyzer G (2010a) Desulfurispira natronophila gen. nov. sp. nov.: an obligately anaerobic dissimilatory sulfur-reducing bacterium from soda lakes. Extremophiles 14:349–355
Sorokin DY, Muyzer G (2010b) Haloalkaliphilic spore-forming sulfidogens from soda lake sediments and description of Desulfitispora alkaliphila gen. nov., sp. nov. Extremophiles 14:313–320
Sorokin DY, Trotsenko YA, Doronina NV, Tourova TP, Galinski EA, Kolganova TV, Muyzer G (2007) Methylohalomonas lacus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Methylonatrum kenyense gen. nov., sp. nov., methylotrophic gammaproteobacteria from hypersaline lakes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 57:2762–2769
Sproessler BG (1993) Milling and baking. In: Nagodawithana T, Reed G (eds) Enzymes in food processing. Academic, New York, pp 293–320
Staley JT, Gosink JJ (1999) Poles apart: biodiversity and biogeography of sea ice bacteria. Ann Rev Microbiol 53:189–215
Stetter KO (1996) Hyperthermophilic prokaryotes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 18:149–158
Stevens T (1997) Lithoautotrophy in the subsurface. FEMS Microbiol Rev 20:327–337
Stiles ME, Holzapfel WH (1997) Lactic acid bacteria of foods and their current taxonomy. Int J Food Microbiol 36:1–29
Summit M, Scott B, Nielson K, Mathur E, Baross J (1998) Pressure enhances thermal stability of DNA polymerase from three thermophilic organisms. Extremophiles 2:339–345
Sun HJ, Friedmann EI (1999) Growth on geological time scales in the Antarctic cryptoendolithic microbial community. Geomicrobiol J 16:193–202
Takahara T, Tanabe O (1960) Studies on the reduction of indigo in industrial fermentation vat (VII). J Ferment Technol 38:324–331
Takai K, Nakamura K, Toki T, Tsunogai U, Miyazaki M, Hirayama H, Nakagawa S, Nunoura T, Horikoshi K (2008) Cell proliferation at 122 °C and isotopically heavy CH4 production by a hyperthermophilic methanogen under high-pressure cultivation. PNAS 105:10949–10954
Tang K, Zong R, Zhang F, Xiao N, Jiao N (2009) Characterization of the photosynthetic apparatus and proteome of Roseobacter denitrificans. Curr Microbiol 60:124–133
Teske AP (2005) The deep subsurface biosphere is alive and well. Trends Microbiol 19:402–404
Tiquia SM, Mormile MR (2010) Extremophiles—a source of innovation for industrial and environmental applications. Environ Technol 31:823–830
Tsubata T, Tezuka T, Kurane R (1997) Change of cell membrane hydrophobicity in a bacterium tolerant to toxic alcohols. Can J Microbiol 43:295–299
Ueno S, Kaieda N, Koyama N (2000) Characterization of a P-type Na+-ATPase of a facultatively anaerobic alkaliphile, Exiguobacterium aurantiacum. J Biol Chem 275:14537–14540
Unemoto T (2000) Bioenergetics of marine bacteria—respiration-coupled Na+ pump. Yakugaku Zasshi 120:16–27
Unemoto T, Hayashi M (1993) Na+ translocating NADH-quinone reductase of marine and halophilic bacteria. J Bioenerg Biomembr 25:385–391
Vainshtein MB, Kudryashova EB (2000) Nanobacteria. Microbiol 69:129–138
Van Benthem R, Krooneman J, De Grave W, Hammenga-Dorenbos H (2009) Thermal design and turbidity sensor for autonomous bacterial growth measurements in spaceflight. Ann NY Acad Sci 1161:147–165
Van-Thuoc D, Quillaguamán J, Mamo G, Mattiasson B (2008) Utilization of agricultural residues for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production by Halomonas boliviensis LC1. J Appl Microbiol 104:420–428
Vedder A (1934) Bacillus alcalophilus n. sp.; benevens enkele ervaringen met sterk alcalische voedingsbodems. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek J Microbiol Serol 1:143–147
Ventosa A, Marquez MC, Garabito MJ, Arahal DR (1998a) Moderately halophilic gram-positive bacterial diversity in hypersaline environments. Extremophiles 2:297–304
Ventosa A, Nieto JJ, Oren A (1998b) Biology of moderately halophilic aerobic bacteria. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 62:504–544
Vieille C, Zeikus JG (2001) Hyperthermophilic enzymes: sources, uses, and molecular mechanisms for thermostability. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 65:1–43
Villar SE, Edwards HG (2006) Raman spectroscopy in astrobiology. Anal Bioanal Chem 384:100–113
Vreeland RH, Litchfield CD, Martin EL, Elliot E (1980) Halomonas elongata, a new genus and species of extremely salt-tolerant bacteria. Int J Syst Bacteriol 30:485–495
Wagner ID, Wiegel J (2008) Diversity of thermophilic anaerobes. Ann NY Acad Sci 1125:1–43
Wainwright M, Brakah F, Al-Turk I, Ta A (1991) Oligotrophic microorganisms in industry, medicine and the environment. Sci Prog 75:313–322
Wainwright M, Tasneem AA, Barakah F (1993) A review of the role of oligotrophic microorganisms in biodeterioration. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 31:1–13
Warren-Rhodes KA, Rhodes KL, Pointing SB, Ewing SA, Lacap DC, Gómez-Silva B, Amundson R, Friedmann EI, McKay CP (2006) Hypolithic cyanobacteria, dry limit of photosynthesis, and microbial ecology in the hyperarid Atacama Desert. Microb Ecol 52:389–398
Wettergreen D, Cabrol N, Baskaran V, Calderón F, Heys S, Jonak D, Lüders A, Pane D, Smith T, Teza J, Tompkins P, Villa D, Williams C, Wagner M (2005) Second experiments in the robotic investigation of life in the Atacama desert of Chile. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:7902–7908
Wiegel J (1990) Temperature spans for growth: a hypothesis and discussion. FEMS Microbiol Rev 75:155–170
Wiegel J (1992) The obligately anaerobic thermophilic bacteria. In: Kristjansson JK (ed) Thermophilic bacteria. CRC, Boca Raton, pp 105–184
Wiegel J (1998) Anaerobic alkalithermohiles, a novel group of extremophiles. Extremophiles 2:257–267
Wiegel J, Adams MWW (1998) Thermophiles—the keys to molecular evolution and the origin of life? Taylor and Francis, London
Wiegel J, Canganella F (2000) Extreme thermophiles. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences, Nature Publishing Group
Wiegel J, Ljungdahl LG (1996) The importance of thermophilic bacteria in biotechnology. CRS-Rev Biotech 3:39–107
Woese CR, Kandler O, Wheelis ML (1990) Towards a natural system of organisms. Proposal for the domains Archaea, Bacteria and Eucarya. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87:4576–4579
Wynn-Williams DD, Edwards HGM (2000) Antarctic ecosystems as models for extraterrestrial surface habitats. Planet Space Sci 48:1065–1075
Yano Y, Nakayama A, Ishihara K, Saito H (1998) Adaptive changes in membrane lipids of barophilic bacteria in response to changes in growth pressure. Appl Environ Microbiol 64:479–485
Yayanos AA, Dietz AS, Van Boxtel R (1982) Dependence of reproduction rate on pressure as hallmark of deep-sea bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 44:1356–1361
Yu Y, Xin YH, Liu HC, Chen B, Sheng J, Chi ZM, Zhou PJ, Zhang DC (2008) Sporosarcina antarctica sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from the Antarctic. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:2114–2117
Yuan M, Zhang W, Dai S, Wu J, Wang Y, Tao T, Chen M, Lin M (2009) Deinococcus gobiensis sp. nov., an extremely radiation-resistant bacterium. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1513–1517
Zeng X, Birrien JL, Fouquet Y, Cherkashov G, Jebbar M, Querellou J, Oger P, Cambon-Bonavita MA, Xiao X, Prieur D (2009) Pyrococcus CH1, an obligate piezophilic hyperthermophile: extending the upper pressure-temperature limits for life. ISME J 3:873–876
Zhang YQ, Sun CH, Li WJ, Yu LY, Zhou JQ, Zhang YQ, Xu LH, Jiang CL (2007) Deinococcus yunweiensis sp. nov., a gamma- and UV-radiation-resistant bacterium from China. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 57:370–375
Zhang DC, Li HR, Xin YH, Chi ZM, Zhou PJ, Yu Y (2008a) Marinobacter psychrophilus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from the Arctic. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:1463–1466
Zhang DC, Li HR, Xin YH, Liu HC, Chi ZM, Zhou PJ, Yu Y (2008b) Phaeobacter arcticus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from the Arctic. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 58:1384–1387
Zhang G, Jiang N, Liu X, Dong X (2008c) Methanogenesis from methanol at low temperatures by a novel psychrophilic methanogen, “Methanolobus psychrophilus” sp. nov., prevalent in Zoige wetland of the Tibetan plateau. Appl Environ Microbiol 74:6114–6120
Zhang GI, Hwang CY, Kang SH, Cho BC (2009) Maribacter antarcticus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from a culture of the Antarctic green alga Pyramimonas gelidicola. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59:1455–1459
Zhilina TN, Zavarzin GA, Detkova EN, Rainey FA (1996) Natroniella acetigena gen. nov. sp. nov., an extremely haloalkaliphilic, homoacetic bacterium: a new member of Haloanaerobiales. Curr Microbiol 32:320–326
Zhong CQ, Song S, Fang N, Liang X, Zhu H, Tang XF, Tang B (2009) Improvement of low-temperature caseinolytic activity of a thermophilic subtilase by directed evolution and site-directed mutagenesis. Biotechnol Bioeng 104:862–870
Zhou H, Zhang R, Hu P, Zeng W, Xie Y, Wu C, Qiu G (2008) Isolation and characterization of Ferroplasma thermophilum sp. nov., a novel extremely acidophilic, moderately thermophilic archaeon and its role in bioleaching of chalcopyrite. J Appl Microbiol 105:591–601
Zobell CE, Morita RY (1957) Barophilic bacteria in some deep-sea sediments. J Bacteriol 73:563–568
Zolensky ME (2005) Extraterrestrial water. Elements 1:39–43
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Canganella, F., Wiegel, J. Extremophiles: from abyssal to terrestrial ecosystems and possibly beyond. Naturwissenschaften 98, 253–279 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-011-0775-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-011-0775-2