Extremophiles in a changing world

Autor(en)

D A Cowan, Sonja-Verena Albers, G Antranikian, H Atomi, B Averhoff, M Basen, A J M Driessen, M Jebbar, Z Kelman, M Kerou, J Littlechild, V Müller, P Schönheit, B Siebers, K Vorgias

Abstrakt

Extremophiles and their products have been a major focus of research interest for over 40 years. Through this period, studies of these organisms have contributed hugely to many aspects of the fundamental and applied sciences, and to wider and more philosophical issues such as the origins of life and astrobiology. Our understanding of the cellular adaptations to extreme conditions (such as acid, temperature, pressure and more), of the mechanisms underpinning the stability of macromolecules, and of the subtleties, complexities and limits of fundamental biochemical processes has been informed by research on extremophiles. Extremophiles have also contributed numerous products and processes to the many fields of biotechnology, from diagnostics to bioremediation. Yet, after 40 years of dedicated research, there remains much to be discovered in this field. Fortunately, extremophiles remain an active and vibrant area of research. In the third decade of the twenty-first century, with decreasing global resources and a steadily increasing human population, the world’s attention has turned with increasing urgency to issues of sustainability. These global concerns were encapsulated and formalized by the United Nations with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the presentation of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. In the run-up to 2030, we consider the contributions that extremophiles have made, and will in the future make, to the SDGs.

Organisation(en)

Department für Funktionelle und Evolutionäre Ökologie, Institut für Ägyptologie

Externe Organisation(en)

University of Pretoria, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Technische Universität Hamburg-Harburg (TUHH), Kyoto University, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Universität Rostock, University of Groningen, Laboratoire de Biologie Et d'Écologie Des Écosystèmes Marins Profonds (BEEP), IUEM, University of Maryland, College Park, University of Exeter, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Universität Duisburg-Essen, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Université de Bretagne Occidentale

Journal

Extremophiles: life under extreme conditions

Band

28

Seiten

26

ISSN

1431-0651

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-024-01341-7

Publikationsdatum

04-2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

106022 Mikrobiologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Molecular Medicine, Microbiology

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/bafbcfcf-0d8e-4a6e-a15b-59f588afb322