SpringerLink Springer Biomedical and Life Sciences eBooks 2017 English+International

Incluye referencias bibliográficas e índices

Preface to the 2nd Edition ; Preface to the 1st Edition ; References; Contents; 1: Physicochemical Boundaries of Life; 1.1 Introduction; 1.2 Brief History of Life on Earth; 1.3 Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, the Tree of Life, and Viruses; 1.4 Extreme Environments and Their Inhabitants; 1.4.1 Temperature Ranges of Microorganisms; 1.4.2 Low Water Activity: Halophiles, Osmophiles, and Xerophiles; 1.4.3 Extremes of pH and Low Nutrients; 1.4.4 High and Low Pressure; 1.4.5 Microgravity and Hypergravity; 1.4.6 Viruses; 1.4.7 Extremophilic Multicellular Organisms.

1.5 Microbial Survival of Extreme Conditions1.6 Life from Meteorites?; 1.7 Concluding Remarks; References; 2: An Updated View of the Microbial Diversity in Deep Hypersaline Anoxic Basins; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 DHABs of the Red Sea; 2.2.1 Localization and Geochemical Features of DHABs; 2.2.2 Microbial Diversity of Red Sea DHABs; 2.2.3 Thuwal Cold Seeps; 2.2.3.1 Localization, Origin, and Geochemical Features; 2.2.3.2 Microbial Diversity Associated to the Thuwal Seeps; 2.3 DHABs of the Mediterranean Sea; 2.3.1 Localization and Origin of DHABs; 2.3.2 Geochemical Features of DHABs.

2.3.3 Microbial Communities of the Newly Discovered DHABs in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea2.4 Microbial Diversity of Hypersaline Brines in the Gulf of Mexico; 2.5 Concluding Remarks; References; 3: Divergence of Species in the Geothermal Environment; 3.1 Introduction; 3.2 Geothermal Areas; 3.2.1 High- and Low-Temperature Fields; 3.2.2 Origins of Hot Spring Water; 3.2.3 Surface Characteristics of Geothermal Areas; 3.3 Ecology of Thermophiles; 3.3.1 Temperature; 3.3.2 pH; 3.3.3 Energy Sources as Selective Pressures; 3.4 Biogeography of Thermophiles; 3.4.1 Dispersal of Thermophiles.

3.4.1.1 Dispersal Capabilities of Thermophiles3.4.1.2 Chemical and Biological Barriers; 3.4.1.3 Historical Barriers: Time; 3.4.2 Biogeography of Thermus; 3.4.3 Ecological Adaptations of Thermus; References; 4: Bacterial Adaptation to Hot and Dry Deserts; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Characteristics of Hot and Dry Deserts with Emphasis on the Sahara; 4.3 Bacterial Mechanisms for Desiccation Tolerance; 4.4 Counting and Describing Bacterial populations in Desert Environments; 4.5 Ramlibacter and Its Life Cycle; 4.6 Deinococcus, Protein Protection, and DNA Repair; References.

5: Extremophiles in Antarctica: Life at Low Temperatures5.1 Introduction; 5.2 Environmental Extremes Associated with the Antarctic; 5.3 Extreme Environments that Also Occur Within the Antarctic; 5.4 Extreme Environments Particular to the Antarctic; 5.5 Key Antarctic Extremophiles; 5.6 Biodiversity; 5.7 Methodology; 5.8 Adaptations; 5.8.1 Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis; 5.8.2 Methanococcoides burtonii; 5.8.3 Methanogenium frigidum; 5.9 Discussion and Future Perspectives; References; 6: Desert Cyanobacteria: Potential for Space and Earth Applications; 6.1 Introduction.

This entirely updated second edition provides an overview on the biology, ecology and biodiversity of extremophiles. Unusual and less explored ecosystems inhabited by extremophiles such as marine hypersaline deeps, extreme cold, desert sands, and man-made clean rooms for spacecraft assembly are presented. An additional focus is put on the role of these highly specialized microorganism in applied research fields, ranging from biotechnology and nanotechnology to astrobiology. Examples such as novel psychrophilic enzymes, compounds from halophiles, and detection strategies for potential extraterrestrial life forms are discussed in detail. The book addresses researchers and advanced students in the fields of microbiology, microbial ecology and biotechnology.