EXTREMOPHILES

EXTREME TEMPERATURES
 Hot springs
 Geysers
 Volcanoes
 Ocean vents

- Temperature in the regions range from 50 ̊C to well above the

boiling point of water which some ocean vents even approaching
350 ̊C.
ANCIENT ARCHAEON

 Heat adapted microbes whose genetics and

metabolism are extremely modified for this
mode of existence.
 HYDROGEN SULFIDE – OXIDIZING
BACTERIA

 Exist in the hydrothermal vents lying

along deep oceanic ridges.
Ex: Thiomicrospira
 THERMOPHILIC VIRUSES
 Found in the hot springs of Yellowstone National
Park. Many of these viruses are bacteriophages of
archaeons that can survive temperatures near
boiling and a PH of 1-2.

 Microbes settle and grow throughout the Arctic

and Antarctic and in the deepest parts of the ocean
in near-freezing temperatures.
ALGAE AND FUNGI

 On the surfaces of snow and glacier ice

 In sea ice of Antarctica
HIGH SALT, ACIDITY AND
ALKALINITY

 Bacteria and algae living in oceans, salt lakes and

inland seas. Some of which are saturated with salt
(30%).
 Salt pockets that supported archaeons living in the
water which is 100 times more concentrated from
the seawater.
BRAVE “OLD” WORLD

 Studies with deep core samples (from 330 m

down) indicate a vast microbial collection in these
zones. They are surviving in mineral deposits that
are hot (90 ̊C) and radioactive.
 The predominant living things in the deepest part
of the oceans (10,000 m or below) are pressure-
and cold- living microorganisms.
 Parched zones in sand dunes and deserts harbour.
 Petroleum, coal and mineral deposits containing
copper, zinc, gold and uranium.
 TOXOPHILES

 Microbes that can adapt and survive under

lethal conditions.
• Halophiles
• Methanogens
• Hyperthermophiles
• Methanopyrus
• Halobacterium
• Thermoplasma