Superbugs

Some microorganisms only live and survive under extreme environmental conditions. This summary presents the results of a five-year research project launched to search the world's most extreme environments for such microorganisms growing under conditions of strong pH, temperature, salinity or pressure. Interesting extremophiles ("Superbugs") found during this search were studied with respect to their DNA, RNA, proteins, lipids, polysaccharides as well as tolerance mechanisms, metabolic pathways, and gene expression. In some cases, tough industrial enzymes stable at higher temperatures or tolerating toxic industrial solvents such as toluene etc., were identified. Their unique properties are of help in establishing a new biotechnology.