Bioremediation Using Extremophiles

Organisms from extreme environments provide hearty enzymatic and whole-cell systems for biocatalysis. These intriguing systems hold possibilities in situations that inhibit reactions for typical bioconversion systems. Scientists and engineers have expanded their understanding of the systems that control catalysis under extremes and have insights into the stability and adaptability of extreme systems. Through examining selective pressures and identifying extremophilic systems that survive and evolve in contaminated environments, it is possible to engineer novel remediation applications through making extremophiles work on a wider range of substrates or by engineering more stability into mesophilic systems. This chapter explores recent advances in extremophilic bioremediation and provides a survey of enzymatic and whole-cell applications.