Color‐Producing Extremophiles

García‐López, Eva; Alcázar, Alberto; Moreno, Ana; Cid, Cristina

doi:10.1002/9781119166191.ch3

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 85 publications

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“…Extremophilic microorganisms produce a broad range of bioactive compounds, secondary metabolites, and value-added products such as flavors, food ingredients, and vitamins, therefore, making them widely applicable in the food and food processing industries ( García-López and Cid, 2016 ). These compounds enhance the potential, add a positive health benefit to the food products and mitigate certain long-term diseases ( Raddadi et al., 2015 ).…”

Section: Industrial Applications Of Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and Haloferax alexandrines contain canthaxanthin, which is used as colorants in food and beverages and pigmentation of salmon flesh ( López et al., 2021 ). Microbial food-grade pigments are obtained from Riboflavin in Ashbya Gossypii and carotene in Blakeslea trispora ( García-López and Cid, 2016 ). The microalgal biomass is also utilized to extract carotenoids which serve as dietary supplements.…”

Section: Industrial Applications Of Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prodigiosin from Vibrio sp. can be used as a bio-dye for coloring wool, acrylics, and silk, and Violacein dye from Chromobacterium violaceum are perfect examples of bio-dyes ( García-López and Cid, 2016 ).…”

Section: Industrial Applications Of Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspectives on the microorganism of extreme environments and their applications

Kumar

Kochhar

Kavya

et al. 2022

Current Research in Microbial Sciences

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Section: Industrial Applications Of Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Industrial Applications Of Extremophilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perspectives on the microorganism of extreme environments and their applications

Kumar

Kochhar

Kavya

et al. 2022

Current Research in Microbial Sciences

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“…The study of these adaptation strategies aims to identify the limits of life at these temperatures ( Table 3 ). Adaptations include: (i) the synthesis of catalytically efficient enzymes that are functional at low temperatures with a high efficiency ( Feller and Gerday, 2003 ); (ii) the synthesis of specialized unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane to increase its fluidity ( Los and Murata, 2004 ; Nichols et al, 2004 ); (iii) the production of extracellular polymeric substances ( Krembs et al, 2011 ) which affect ice crystal structure and allow the cell to protect itself from frostbite (e.g., sugars, polysaccharides, antifreeze proteins) ( Alcazar et al, 2010 ; Garcia-Descalzo et al, 2012a ); (iv) the synthesis of certain proteins that allow synthesizing others at low temperatures ( Garcia-Descalzo et al, 2011 ); (v) the reorganization of protein networks ( Garcia-Descalzo et al, 2014 ); (vi) the use pigments to obtain energy, stress resistance and for ultraviolet light protection ( Garcia-Lopez and Cid, 2016 ). For instance, colored glacier surfaces are caused by snow algae or melanized fungi.…”

Section: Microbial Communities Living In Glaciers and Ice Sheetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glaciers and Ice Sheets As Analog Environments of Potentially Habitable Icy Worlds

García‐López

Cid

2017

Front. Microbiol.

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Icy worlds in the solar system and beyond have attracted a remarkable attention as possible habitats for life. The current consideration about whether life exists beyond Earth is based on our knowledge of life in terrestrial cold environments. On Earth, glaciers and ice sheets have been considered uninhabited for a long time as they seemed too hostile to harbor life. However, these environments are unique biomes dominated by microbial communities which maintain active biochemical routes. Thanks to techniques such as microscopy and more recently DNA sequencing methods, a great biodiversity of prokaryote and eukaryote microorganisms have been discovered. These microorganisms are adapted to a harsh environment, in which the most extreme features are the lack of liquid water, extremely cold temperatures, high solar radiation and nutrient shortage. Here we compare the environmental characteristics of icy worlds, and the environmental characteristics of terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets in order to address some interesting questions: (i) which are the characteristics of habitability known for the frozen worlds, and which could be compatible with life, (ii) what are the environmental characteristics of terrestrial glaciers and ice sheets that can be life-limiting, (iii) What are the microbial communities of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms that can live in them, and (iv) taking into account these observations, could any of these planets or satellites meet the conditions of habitability? In this review, the icy worlds are considered from the point of view of astrobiological exploration. With the aim of determining whether icy worlds could be potentially habitable, they have been compared with the environmental features of glaciers and ice sheets on Earth. We also reviewed some field and laboratory investigations about microorganisms that live in analog environments of icy worlds, where they are not only viable but also metabolically active.

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“…Additionally, some examples of cold-adapted bacteria that produce pigments are the bacterium Sphingobacterium antarcticus, which produces zeaxanthin, b-cryptoxanthin, and b-carotene [30]. Other examples include the polar bacteria Octadecabacter arcticus and Octadecabacter antarcticus, producers of xanthorhodopsin [31], and Shewanella frigidimarina which produces the red cytochrome c3 [32,33]. Colored melanized fungi also live on glaciers, for instance, the oligotrophic genus Cladosporium [34].…”

Section: The Supraglacial Ecosystemmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Microbial Ecology in Glacier Retreat

García‐López¹,

Cid²

2017

Glaciers Evolution in a Changing World

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Glaciers have been considered too hostile to harbor life for a long time. However, they are now recognized as unique biomes dominated by microbial communities which maintain active biochemical routes. Microbial communities inhabiting glaciers are diverse depending on the type of glacier and the area studied. Some glaciers have a marine margin and finish in a calving front, with partly or completely temperate tidewater tongues, this establishes important differences with respect to glaciers with a land margin. Depending on the glacier area studied, microorganisms are also characteristic as they establish a vertical food chain, from the surface photosynthesizers in upper illuminated layers to heterotrophs confined in the inner part. Glaciers are retreating in many areas of the world due to global warming. Microorganisms are their most abundant and unknown occupants. They play a main role, carrying out key processes in the development of soil and facilitating plant colonization when glaciers have ultimately retired. These microorganisms are perfectly adapted to their harsh environment and are very susceptible to environmental changes. This chapter summarizes the role of microbial ecology as indicator of the conservation status of glaciers.

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Color‐Producing Extremophiles

Cited by 8 publications

References 85 publications

Perspectives on the microorganism of extreme environments and their applications

Perspectives on the microorganism of extreme environments and their applications

Glaciers and Ice Sheets As Analog Environments of Potentially Habitable Icy Worlds

The Role of Microbial Ecology in Glacier Retreat

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