What are extremophiles and how can they improve my life?

Extremophiles are microorganisms that live in extreme environments, meaning environments where most forms of life cannot survive: environments with extremely high or low temperatures, high salinity, extremely acidic or alkaline pH, high pressure or high levels of radiation, for example.

Although we cannot attribute the discovery of these microorganisms to a single person, it is worth mentioning the figure of Thomas D. Brock, who in the 1960s discovered thermophilic bacteria in the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park, thus contradicting the idea that life could not exist in such high temperatures.

Further research led to the discovery of other types of organisms capable of surviving in extreme conditions, broadening our understanding of life and opening up new areas of research in microbiology. Depending on the environment in which they are found, we can distinguish several types of extremophiles, for example:

• Thermophiles and hyperthermophiles: thermophiles live in very high temperatures (between 20ºC and 75ºC) and hyperthermophiles are able to withstand temperatures above 75ºC.
• Psychrophiles: thrive in extremely low temperatures, above the freezing point of water, such as those found in the Arctic and Antarctica.
• Halophiles: characterised by inhabiting environments with high levels of salinity, such as salt pans or salty lakes.
• Acidophiles: live in highly acidic environments, such as sulphide mines or volcanoes.
• Alkalophiles: present in very alkaline conditions, with pH close to 9.
• Barophiles: found in high pressure environments (liquid or gaseous), such as the deep ocean.

 

Importance of Extremophiles

Extremophiles are of great interest to science both for their ability to survive in extreme conditions and for their potential in biotechnological applications. In addition, extremophiles are fundamental in astrobiology because they offer clues to the possibilities of life on other planets or moons, under extreme conditions that could be similar to those found on celestial bodies outside Earth. Their study is of great importance for the search for extraterrestrial life, as they suggest that life could exist under similar extreme conditions on other planets or moons in the solar system.

There are several improvements that extremophiles have brought to society, mainly through their applications in biotechnology, medicine and industry. In the ARQUIMEA blog we detail some of the most significant improvements:

1. Industrial enzymes: extremophiles produce enzymes that function and are resistant to extreme conditions, such as high temperature, acidity or salinity, where conventional enzymes would fail. An example of such enzymes is Taq polymerase derived from the bacterium Thermus aquaticus, essential in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Since its discovery, PCR has been a fundamental tool in molecular biology to amplify DNA and is used, among other things, in diagnostic tests, including tests for diseases such as COVID-19.
2. Waste treatment and bioremediation: extremophiles are also useful for cleaning up contaminated environments, as in the case of halophiles, which are able to help break down toxic substances in environments with high salinity, such as saline soils or industrial wastewater, reducing pollution and restoring the ecosystem. They are also essential for cleaning up industrial waste in sites contaminated by chemicals or heavy metals.
3. Pharmaceutical biotechnology: it has been discovered that certain extremophiles are capable of producing compounds with potential pharmaceutical properties, being used in the development of new drugs, such as antimicrobials and anticancer agents.
4. Astrobiology: knowing and studying extremophiles has undoubtedly helped to understand how life could exist on other planets or moons with similar extreme conditions.
5. Food and agriculture: some extremophile enzymes are used to improve the resistance of crops to adverse conditions, such as drought or soil salinity, making it possible to ensure food production in an environment increasingly marked by climate change.
6. Biomining: In mining, acidophiles (which thrive in acidic conditions) are used in the bioextraction of metals such as copper, gold and uranium from low-grade ores. This reduces the need to use aggressive chemicals in the leaching process, making it more environmentally friendly.
7. Biofuel production: Some enzymes derived from extremophiles are used in the production of bioethanol and biogas. For example, thermophilic micro-organisms can help break down biomass into fermentable sugars, which are then used for ethanol or methane production.
8. Cosmetics industry: Enzymes from extremophiles are increasingly used in the cosmetics industry because of their strength and stability. They are ideal for personal care products that require long-term stability and effectiveness under extreme conditions, such as sunscreens or anti-ageing products.

In short, extremophiles have improved several crucial areas for society, from medical and pharmacological research to environmental bioremediation, offering technologies and solutions capable of functioning in conditions previously considered life-threatening.

 

What is the future of extremophile research?

The future of extremophile research is very promising and is expected to lead to the following advances in the sectors mentioned above:

1. Industrial biotechnology: extremophile enzymes, because of their stability under extreme conditions, can optimise industrial processes such as biofuel, chemical and food production, making them more sustainable and less dependent on costly resources. This is because their characteristics allow more aggressive and polluting industrial methods to be replaced by more environmentally friendly processes, leading to greater energy efficiency and less waste generation. In addition, the ability of these microorganisms to produce natural polymers under extreme conditions could boost the creation of bioplastics and sustainable materials, reducing dependence on petroleum-based plastics and addressing environmental problems such as pollution.
2. Sustainability and bioremediation: Biotechnology based on extremophiles is expected to advance bioremediation, especially in cleaning up environments contaminated by heavy metals, hydrocarbons, or even radioactive waste. These organisms could be used to rehabilitate areas affected by industrial activity or ecological disasters such as fires.
3. New drug discovery: extremophiles are a potential source of unique bioactive compounds that can be used to develop new drugs. With increasing antibiotic resistance listed as one of the major public health threats we need to address, research on extremophiles could provide vital solutions for global health in the form of new antibiotics, antivirals, or anti-cancer treatments.
4. Astrobiology and space exploration: studying extremophiles is fundamental to astrobiology, allowing future space missions to be guided in the search for extraterrestrial life, especially in places like Mars or the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.

ARQUIMEA and research with extremophiles

ARQUIMEA Research Center, the research center of the ARQUIMEA group located in the Canary Islands, has an orbital dedicated to research in the field of Biotechnology and has a line of research in extremophiles with projects in astrobiology, soil bioremediation or research into new drugs with its exclusive strain.

In addition, all ARQUIMEA Research Center projects belong to the QCIRCLE project, co-financed by the European Union, which aims to create a centre of scientific excellence in Spain.

 

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”