Main description:

The Extremophiles Handbook brings together the rapidly growing and often scattered information on microbial life in the whole range of extreme environments. This book will be a useful reference for finding clues to the origin of life and for exploring the biotechnology potential of these fascinating organisms.

Feature:

Presents a comprehensive overview on extremophiles research

Covers microbial life in the whole range of extreme environments

Written by leading experts in the field

Contents:

PART 1: PROLOGUE. - Definition, Categories, Distribution, Origin and Evolution, Pioneering Studies, and Emerging Fields of Extremophiles.

PART 2: EXTREMOPHILES: ALKALIPHIES. - Introduction and History of Alkaliphiles. - Distribution and Diversity of Soda Lake Alkaliphiles. - Environmental Distribution and Taxonomic Diversity of Alkaliphiles. - Anaerobic Alkaliphiles and Alkaliphilic Poly-Extremophiles. - General Physiology of Alkaliphiles. - Adaptive Mechanisms of Extreme Alkaliphiles. Bioenergetics: Cell Motility and Chemotoxis of Extreme Alkaliphiles. - Enzymes Isolated from Alkaliphiles. - Genomics and Evolution of Alkaliphilic Bacillus Species. - Beta-Cyclomaltodextrin Glucanotransferase of a Species of Alkaliphilic Bacillus for the Production of Beta-Cyclodextrin. - Alkaline Enzymes in Current Detergency.

PART 3: EXTREMOPHILES: HALOPHILES. - Taxonomy of Halophiles. - Diversity of Halophiles. - Osmoadaptation in Methanogenic Archaea: Physiology, Genetics, and Regulation in Methanosarcina mazei Gö1. - Ecology of Halophiles. - Genetics and Genomics of Triangular Disc-Shaped Halophilic Archaeon Haloarcula japonica Strain TR-1. - Adapting to Changing Salinities: Biochemistry, Genetics and Regulation in the Moderately Halophilic Bacterium Halobacillus halophilus.

PART 4: EXTREMOPHILES: THERMOPHILES. - History of Discovery of Hyperthermophiles. - Carbohydrate Active Enzymes from Thermophiles, Biochemistry and Application. - Lignocellulose Converting Enzymes from Thermophiles. - Enzymes Involved in DNA Amplification and Modification (e.g. Polymerases) from Thermophiles: Evolution of PCR Enzymes. - Organic Compatible Solutes of Prokaryotes that Thrive in hot Environments: the Importance of Ionic Compounds for Thermostabilization. - Metalloproteins from Hyperthermophiles. - Genetics of Thermophiles. - Genetic Tools and Manipulations of the Hyperthermophilic Heterotrophic Archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis. - Thermophilic Protein Folding Systems. - Physiology, Metabolism and Enzymology of Thermoacidophiles.

PART 5: EXTREMOPHILES: PIEZOPHILES. - Distribution of Piezophiles. - High Pressure and Prokaryotes. - Piezophysiology of the Model Bacterium Escherichia coli. - High Pressures and Eukaryotes. - Contributions of Large-Scale DNA Sequencing Efforts to the Understanding of Low Temperature Piezophiles. - Methods-1. - Methods-2. - Versatile Solidified Media for Growth of Extremophiles.

PART 6: EXTREMOPHILES: PSYCHROPHILES. - Ecology of Psychrophiles: Subglacial and Permafrost Environments. – Taxonomy. - Diversity of Psychrophilic Bacteria from Sea Ice - and Glacial Ice Communities. - Adaptation Mechanisms of Psychrotolerant Bacterial Pathogens. - Ecological Distribution of Microorganisms in Terrestrial, Psychrophilic Habitats. - Genetics, Genomics, Evolution. - Psychrophilic Enzymes: Cool Responses to Chilly Problems.

PART 7: EXTREMOPHILES: XEROPHILES. - Microbiology of Volcanic Environments.

PART 8: EXTREMOPHILES: ORGANIC SOLVENT TOLERANT MICROORGANISMS. - Discovery and Taxonomy of Organic Solvent Tolerant Microorganisms. - Diversity and Ecology of Organic Solvent Tolerant Microorganisms. - Molecular Responses to Solvent Stress: Strategies for Living in Unpalatable Substrates. - Genetics, Evolution and Applications.

PART 9: NEW FRONTIERS: DEEP BIOSPHERE. - Sub-Seafloor Sediments - an Extreme but Globally Significant Prokaryotic Habitat (Taxonomy, Diversity, Ecology). – Physiology. – Biochemistry. - Genetics, Genomics, Evolution.

PART 10: NEW FRONTIERS: RADIATION RESISTANT ORGANISMS. - Deinococcus Radiodurans: Revising the Molecular Basis for Radiation Effects on Cells. - Ecological Stress: Melanization as a Response in Fungi to Radiation. - Melanin and Resistance to Ionizing Radiation in Fungi.

PART 11: NEW FRONTIERS: MICROORGANISMS IN OLIGOTROPHIC ENVIRONMENTS. - Ecology and Cultivation of Marine Oligotrophic Bacteria. - Physiology of Marine Oligotrophic Ultramicrobacteria.

PART 12: NEW FRONTIERS: APPLICATIONS AND GLOBAL IMPACTS. - Actinobacteria of the Extremobiosphere.

PART 13: EPILOGUE. – Epilogue.