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Review
. 2024 Apr 29;28(2):26.
doi: 10.1007/s00792-024-01341-7.

Extremophiles in a changing world

D A Cowan  1 , S V Albers  2 , G Antranikian  3 , H Atomi  4 , B Averhoff  5 , M Basen  6 , A J M Driessen  7 , M Jebbar  8 , Z Kelman  9 , M Kerou  10 , J Littlechild  11 , V Müller  5 , P Schönheit  12 , B Siebers  13 , K Vorgias  14
Affiliations
Review

Extremophiles in a changing world

D A Cowan et al. Extremophiles. .

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Bioeconomy; Bioenergy; Biomining; Bioproducts; Extremophiles; Gene discovery; Global Sustainability Goals; Metagenomics; Sustainable Development Goals; Thermophiles.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual model for automated protein functional characterisation from metagenomic sequence
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Contributions of extremophiles to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Extremophiles and SDG7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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