Extremophiles are life-forms that thrive under some of the harshest conditions found on Earth. In recent years, extremophiles have been discovered in such inhospitable places as active volcanoes, deep sea vents, and the ultrasaline remnants of extinct inland seas. Extensive studies of extremophile ecology, physiology, and molecular biology have yielded valuable information about life processes at every level, with a number of important industrial applications. Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments provides a detailed overview of the current state of knowledge about this fascinating group of life-forms. Over the course of eleven contributed chapters, twenty-six experts from around the globe identify known extremophiles, explore their unique ecologies and physiologies, and discuss current and future biotechnological applications.
Providing the most up-to-date coverage currently available of a rapidly advancing field, Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments:

• Combines the latest research findings with informed speculation about extremophile evolution, ecology, physiology, and genetics
• Covers all types of extremophiles, including hyperthermophiles, psychrophiles, halophiles, acidophiles, alkaliophiles, and anaerobic extremophiles
• Explores current and future industrial applications, such as alkaliophile bioenergetics, metal recovery, and toxic waste disposal

An indispensable working resource for industrial microbiologists and molecular biologists, Extremophiles: Microbial Life in Extreme Environments is also a thought-provoking and accessible introduction to the field for all interested scientists.