Extremophile halophilic

Could it be the case that microorganisms, like the suspected fossils in the Mars meteorite ALH 84001, exist in the Martian soil This question leads to the counterquestion as to whether it has previously been possible to detect and study life (primitive life forms) under highly extreme conditions. Are there such conditions on Earth We now know quite a lot about extremophiles such as the thermophilic, halophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms. 

Extremophiles Microbes that can grow under very adverse environment conditions. Classifications include thermopiules (temperature > 40°C), acidoplfiles (pH < 2), alkalophiles (pH > 11), halophiles (salt > 20% w/v), baroptules (pressure > 100 atm), and psycroplfiles (temperature < 20°C). 

Escherichia coli (Niehaus, 1999). Whereas halophiles (Margesin, 2001) and piezo-philes (Abe, 2001) have attracted attention, the main aspect of interest for biotechnological application remains thermal stability, focusing interest on thermophiles or even hyperthermophiles. Increase in temperature has a significant influence on the bioavailability and solubility of organic compounds (not on the solubility of Oz, however, which is nearly zero at extremophilic temperatures ). Current applications of extremozymes include ... 

R. Margesin and F. Schinner, Potential of halotolerant and halophilic microorganisms for biotechnology, Extremophiles 2001, 5, 73-83. 

Madigan MT, Marrs BL (1997) Extremophiles. Sci Am, April 1997, pp 82-87 Madigan MT, Oren A (1999) Thermophilic and halophilic extremophiles. Curr Opin Microbiol 2 265-269... 

Extremophilic microbes (extremophiles) abound in extreme habitats, such as acidophiles (acidic sulfurous hot springs), alkalophiles (alkaline lakes), halophiles (salt lakes), piezo (baro)- and (hyper)thermophiles (deep-sea vents), ° and... 

Archaebacteria live in extreme environments and, therefore, are sometimes called extremophiles. The three groups of archaebacteria—methanogens, halophiles, and thermacidophiles—have specific preferences about the precise nature of their environment. Methanogens are strict anaerobes that produce methane (CH ) from carbon dioxide (CO ) and hydrogen (H ). 

Arias, S., del Moral, A., Ferrer, M. R., Tallon, R., Quesada, E., Bejar, V. M. An exopolysaccharide produced by the halophilic bacterium Halomonas maura, with a novel composition and interesting properties for biotechnology. Extremophiles 2003,7,319-326. 

Bautista, V., Esclapez, J., P6rez-Pomares, F., Martinez-Espinosa, R. M., Camacho, M., Bonete, M. J. Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase a key enzyme in the assimilation of starch by the halophilic archaeon Halofemx mediterranei. Extremophiles 2012, 16(1), 147-159. 

Extremophiles. Site ofthe scientific journal published by Springer from which one can download all the articles published in pdf format. See also http //library.thinkquest.org/CR0212089/home.htm This website contains many information on Acidophiles, Alkaliphiles, Barophiles, Halophiles, Mesophiles, Psychrophiles Thermophiles and Xerophiles. 

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