The Proceedings From Halophiles 2013 The International Congress On Halophilic Microorganisms

The Halophiles 2013 meeting is a multidisciplinary international congress, with a strong history of regular triennial meetings since 1978. Our mission is to bring researchers from a wide diversity of investigation interests (e.g., protein and species evolution; niche adaptation, ecology, taxonomy, genomics, metagenomics, horizontal gene transfer, gene regulation; DNA replication, repair and recombination; signal transduction; community assembly and species distribution; astrobiology; biotechnological applications; adaptation to radiation, desiccation, osmotic stress) into a single forum for the integration and synthesis of ideas and data from all three domains of life, and their viruses, yet from a single environment; salt concentrations greater than seawater. This cross-section of research informs our understanding of the microbiological world in many ways. The halophilic environment is extreme, especially above 10% NaCl, restricting life solely to microbes. The microorganisms that live there are adapted to extreme conditions, and are notable for their ability to survive high doses of radiation and desiccation. Therefore, the hypersaline environment is a model system (both the abiotic, and biologic factors) for insightful understanding regarding conditions and life in the absence of plant and animals (e.g., life on the early earth, and other solar system bodies like Mars and Europa). Lower salinity conditions (e.g., 6-10% NaCl) form luxuriant microbial mats considered modern analogues of fossilized stromatolites, which are enormous microbially produced structures fashioned during the Precambrian (and still seen today in places like Shark’s Bay, Australia). Hypersaline systems are island-like habitats spread patchily across the earth’s surface, and similar to the Galapagos Islands represent unique systems excellent for studying the evolutionary pressures that shape microbial community assembly, adaptation, and speciation. The unique adaptations to this extreme environment produce valuable proteins, enzymes and other molecules capable of remediating harsh human instigated environments, and are useful for the production of biofuels, vitamins, and retinal implants, for example. This research topic is intended to capture the breadth and depth of these topics.

Highly recommended by CHOICE, Oct 2018 Extremophiles are nature’s ultimate survivors, thriving in environments ranging from the frozen Antarctic to abyssal hot hydrothermal vents. Their lifeforms span bacteria to fishes, and are categorized as halophiles from hypersaline environments, acidophiles from acidic waters, psychrophiles from cold habitats, and thermophiles from warm waters. Extremophiles: From Biology to Biotechnology comprehensively covers the basic biology, physiology, habitats, secondary metabolites for bioprospecting, and biotechnology of these extreme survivors. The chapters focus on the novel genetic and biochemical traits that lend these organisms to biotechnological applications. Couples studies of marine extremophile biology/genomics and extremophile culture for biotechnological applications with the latest advances in bio-prospecting and bio-product development Includes practical experiments that a laboratory can use to replicate extreme habitats for research purposes Presents latest advances in extremophile genomics to give the reader a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of extremophiles Offers insights into the production of commercially important extremozymes, carotenoids, bioactive compounds and secondary metabolites of medicinal value. This unique guide serves as a resource for biotechnologists who wish to explore extremophiles for their commercial potential, as well as a valuable reference for teaching undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students.

This book presents a systems thinking approach in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable national development in vulnerable countries. Systems thinking is a process for understanding the interrelationships among the key components of a system; this book illustrates sustainable development as a system. Key environmental issues are discussed showing their relationship to socioeconomic aspects of development, in the light of increased climate threats and environmental disasters.

Various groups of microorganisms - bacteria, archaea, algae and even fungi - have adapted to a life in a hypersaline environment. Halophilic Microorganisms explores the many-fold aspects of life under these extreme conditions. Several contributions analyze the microbial communities in different hypersaline environments such as salterns, soda lakes, and the Dead Sea or salt sediments. Reviews of their biodiversity, phylogeny, and genetics are given as well as of the diverse adaptation strategies of salt-tolerant or salt-requiring microorganisms. Microorganisms that have adapted to moderate salt concentrations or to habitats with drastic fluctuations are also treated in addition to the extreme halophiles. Their physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms developed in response to salinity and high osmotic pressure as well as current and future biotechnological applications are presented.

Extremophiles have been studied for many decades - these microorganisms can thrive under a vast range of conditions, including extreme temperature, pH, pressure, radiation, salinity, energy, and nutrient limitation. Life in extreme environments has evolved to render solutions that overcome the challenges presented by such conditions. Among these solutions include extremozymes and extremolytes, an invaluable collection of natural, renewable, and biological resources with immense potential for applications aimed at the development of a sustainable bio-economy, especially in biotechnology and other industrial sectors. In line with this observation, extremophilic DNA polymerases have been instrumental in driving unprecedented progress in recombinant DNA technologies applied in diverse areas, including agriculture and human health. Thermostable and halotolerant enzymes are likely to feature significantly in the renewable energy sector of the future, including bioethanol production and the Gas-to-Liquid effort, which aims at converting greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane to liquid fuels. Furthermore, due to the stability of extremophilic protein homologs, insights to the structure and function of protein/protein complexes, including those critical to protein degradation, were solved to advance our understanding of fundamental processes across the three domains of life.

This book presents a review and in-depth analyses of improved biotechnological processes emphasizing critical aspects and challenges of lignocellulosic biomass conversion into biofuels and value-added products especially using extremophiles and recombinant microorganisms. The book specifically comprises extremophilic production of liquid and gaseous biofuels (bioethanol, biobutanol, biodiesel, biohydrogen, and biogas) as well as value added products (e.g. single cell protein, hydrocarbons, lipids, exopolysaccharides, and polyhydroxyalkanoates). The book also provides the knowledge on how to develop safe, more efficient, sustainable, and economical integrated processes for enhanced conversion of lignocellulosic feedstocks to liquid and gaseous biofuels. Finally the book describes how to perform the techno-economical and life-cycle assessments of new integrated processes involving extremophiles. These modeling exercises are critical in addressing any deficiencies associated with the demonstration of an integrated biofuels and value-added products production process at pilot scale as well as demonstration on the commercialization scale.