Microbiology of Volcanic Environments

Abstract

The environmental limits to life on Earth are defined by the distribution of microorganisms as primary colonizers, and it is this marvel of evolutionary history that is the principal theme of this Springer Reference. Environmental limits in this context describe the outermost boundaries of the physicochemical world as we know it, and, by extension, those organisms that grow under such extreme conditions. The purpose of the Extremophiles Handbook is to bring together the rapidly growing information on microbial life in the whole range of extreme environments and to evaluate it in relation not only to the biodiversity, biochemistry, physiology, and ecology that it comprises, but also to assess how we can gain clues to the origin of life and the search for astrobiology, and finally to explore the biotechnological potential of these fascinating organisms. Table of 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.