Halophiles

The halophiles are a large unexplored reservoir of biodiversity and are a potential source for industry, agriculture and environment. The highlights include the distribution of the halophiles, their adaptation in different stress conditions, and mining of their unique antimicrobial and enzymatic potential. These poly extremophiles are excellent source of enzymes and metabolites possessing inherent ability to function in extreme conditions viz., high salt, alkaline pH and facilitating catalysis for biotechnological application in food processing, industrial bioconversion and bioremediation. In brief, we have just begun to realize the great potential and true extent of diversity and suitable industrial applications possible from halophiles.

Résumé
The world of halophiles is quite diverse and their representatives in three domains of life i.e. archaea, bacteria and eukarya. They are found all over the small subunit rRNA based tree of life and these micro-organisms are adapted to salt concentration up to saturation hence able to grow at >300g/l Nacl concentration. Their metabolic diversity is high as well encompassing oxygenic and anoxygenic phototrophs, aerobic heterotrophs, denitrifiers, sulphate reducers, fermenters and methanogens. The proteins of halophiles are magnificently engineered to function in a milieu containing 2-5M salt that encodes genes represent a valuable repository and resource for reconstruction and visualizing processes of habitat selection and adaptive evolution. Search for new enzymes endowed with novel activities and enhanced stability continues to be desirable purpose for important commercial production of biotechnological significance. These poly extremophiles proved excellent source of enzymes and metabolites possessing inherent ability to function in extreme conditions of high salt, alkaline pH and facilitating catalysis for industrial application in food processing, industrial bioconversion, bioremediation etc. In fact, it has just begun to realize the great potential and true extent of diversity and suitable applications if explored them judiciously. This book highlights current applications and research on halophiles to provide a timely overview. Chapters are written by expert authors from around the world and include topics of varied importance which include their role to play in enzyme production, restoration of soil fertility and plant growth , antimicrobial and biocatalytic potential, biomolecules in nanotechnology and aspects of quorum sensing. The book is divided into three sections, dealing with biodiversity, biotechnology and sustainable exploitation of halophiles. This major new work represents a valuable source of information to all those scientists interested in microorganisms in general and extremophiles in particular with respect to their innovative products and applications.

Contenu

1. Biodiversity of Halophilic and Halotolerant Actinobacteria. - 2. Antimicrobial and Biocatalytic Potential of Haloalkaliphilic Actinobacteria. - 3. Biotechnological Exploitation of Actinobacterial members. - 4. Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles from Halophiles. - 5. Halophilic Microorganisms and their Biomolecules: Approaching into frame of bio(nano)technologies. - 6. Environmental diversity and Biological Survivability of Halophilic Bacteria. - 7. Investigating the Quorum Sensing System in Halophilic Bacteria. - 8. Site Specific Bioinoculants for Sustainable Agriculture in Coastal Saline Soil. - 9. Application of Halotolerant Bacteria to Restore Plant Growth Under Salt Stress. - 10. Beneficial Usages of Halophilic Microorganisms. - 11. Halophilic Bacteria: Potentials and Applications in Biotechnology. - 12. Microbial Hydrocarbon-Removal Under Halostress. - 13. Hydrolytic enzymes in halophilic bacteria, properties and biotechnological potential. - 14. Isolation and Screening of Halophilic Bacteria for Production of Hydrolytic Enzymes. - 15.Perspectives and Application of Halophilic Enzymes.