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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Author Spotlight: Understanding Microbe Adaptation Using Innovative Techniques for Exploring Thermophilic Evolution
Published on: June 14, 2024
Exploration of extremophiles for high temperature biotechnological processes
Skander Elleuche1, Christian Schäfers1, Saskia Blank1
1Institute of Technical Microbiology, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Kasernenstr. 12, D-21073 Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Industrial processes often take place under harsh conditions that are hostile to microorganisms and their biocatalysts. Microorganisms surviving at temperatures above 60°C represent a chest of biotechnological treasures for high-temperature bioprocesses by producing a large portfolio of biocatalysts (thermozymes). Due to the unique requirements to cultivate thermophilic (60-80°C) and hyperthermophilic (80-110°C) Bacteria and Archaea, less than 5% are cultivable in the laboratory. Therefore, other approaches including sequence-based screenings and metagenomics have been successful in providing novel thermozymes. In particular, polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (amylolytic enzymes, hemicellulases, cellulases, pectinases and chitinases), lipolytic enzymes and proteases from thermophiles have attracted interest due to their potential for versatile applications in pharmaceutical, chemical, food, textile, paper, leather and feed industries as well as in biorefineries.
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