Halophiles: Biodiversity and Sustainable Exploitation (Sustainable Development and Biodiversity Book 6)

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. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Biodiversity of Halophilic and Halotolerant Actinobacteria....Pages 1-28 Antimicrobial and Biocatalytic Potential of Haloalkaliphilic Actinobacteria....Pages 29-55 Biotechnological Exploitation of Actinobacterial Members....Pages 57-143 Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles from Halophiles....Pages 145-159 Halophilic Microorganisms and Their Biomolecules: Approaching into Frame of Bio(Nano) Technologies....Pages 161-172 Environmental Diversity and Biological Survivability of Halophilic Bacteria....Pages 173-188 Investigating the Quorum Sensing System in Halophilic Bacteria....Pages 189-207 Site Specific Bioinoculants for Sustainable Agriculture in Coastal Saline Soil....Pages 209-234 Application of Halotolerant Bacteria to Restore Plant Growth Under Salt Stress....Pages 235-259 Beneficial Usages of Halophilic Microorganisms....Pages 261-276 Halophilic Bacteria: Potentials and Applications in Biotechnology....Pages 277-321 Microbial Hydrocarbon-Removal Under Halostress....Pages 323-354 Hydrolytic Enzymes in Halophilic Bacteria, Properties and Biotechnological Potential....Pages 355-378 Isolation and Screening of Halophilic Bacteria for Production of Hydrolytic Enzymes....Pages 379-401 Perspectives and Application of Halophilic Enzymes....Pages 403-419 Extracellular Proteases from Halophilic and Haloalkaliphilic Bacteria: Occurrence and Biochemical Properties....Pages 421-449 Back Matter....Pages 451-456 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