Thermophiles as a Promising Source of Exopolysaccharides with Interesting Properties

Abstract

Thermophilic niches offer diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms enormous part of which is still unknown. Thermophiles represent a vast natural resource of various bioactive compounds, among which exopolysaccharides (EPSs) attracted major interest and attention in last two decades due to the significant variety in their structural and functional properties despite of the limited knowledge in the field. Thermophilic EPS producers were isolated from both, Bacteria (Thermotoga, Thermus, Bacillus Geobacillus, Brevibacillus, Aeribacillus) and Archaea (Thermococcus, Sulfolobus) domains. Advantages in using thermophilic processes for EPS production and potential use of the synthesized EPSs are discussed. Their biotechnologically interesting properties, like high molecular weight, stability of their molecules, good synergism with other hydrocolloids, biological activity against cytotoxic compounds, antiviral and immunostimulating activities determine their possible future applications.