While temperature is a major limiting factor for microbial life, thermophiles live in high-temperature ecosystems all over the world. Different types of thermophilic bacteria, archaea, fungi, and algae thrive in high temperature habitats, such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, geysers, fumaroles, or mud volcanos. Understanding life in high-temperature environments requires exploring microbial diversity, interactions and adaptations to environmental extremes, To accommodate high-temperature stress, thermophiles are modifying the cellular microenvironment by producing thermostable enzymes and bioactive compounds, for example polysaccharides, polyesters, and pigments. The study of thermophiles and the molecular strategies they have developed to cope with extreme temperatures may also provide new insights into the production of some biotechnologically important metabolites. It is time to explore these capabilities using cutting-edge molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and bioinformatics methods. Finally, thermophiles include some of the most deeply-branching lineages of life on Earth, and understanding their biology provides context for imprints of life from billions of years ago, and for environmental limits for life on Earth and exoplanets.
The present special issue, titled “Insight in thermophilic microbes: from OMICS to bioactive compounds” invites Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Opinion, or Perspective on thermophilic microorganisms on the following broad areas:
• Characterization of uncultured microorganisms from various high temperature environments
• Adaptation, biodiversity, and functionality of thermophilic communities
• OMICS study on thermophiles
• Isolation, structural elucidation, and activity of secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds produced by thermophiles
While temperature is a major limiting factor for microbial life, thermophiles live in high-temperature ecosystems all over the world. Different types of thermophilic bacteria, archaea, fungi, and algae thrive in high temperature habitats, such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, geysers, fumaroles, or mud volcanos. Understanding life in high-temperature environments requires exploring microbial diversity, interactions and adaptations to environmental extremes, To accommodate high-temperature stress, thermophiles are modifying the cellular microenvironment by producing thermostable enzymes and bioactive compounds, for example polysaccharides, polyesters, and pigments. The study of thermophiles and the molecular strategies they have developed to cope with extreme temperatures may also provide new insights into the production of some biotechnologically important metabolites. It is time to explore these capabilities using cutting-edge molecular biology, analytical chemistry, and bioinformatics methods. Finally, thermophiles include some of the most deeply-branching lineages of life on Earth, and understanding their biology provides context for imprints of life from billions of years ago, and for environmental limits for life on Earth and exoplanets.
The present special issue, titled “Insight in thermophilic microbes: from OMICS to bioactive compounds” invites Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods, Opinion, or Perspective on thermophilic microorganisms on the following broad areas:
• Characterization of uncultured microorganisms from various high temperature environments
• Adaptation, biodiversity, and functionality of thermophilic communities
• OMICS study on thermophiles
• Isolation, structural elucidation, and activity of secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds produced by thermophiles