Microbial Life at the Extremes: From Environmental Diversity to Functional Insights
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 53
Special Issue Editors
Interests: extreme microbiology; biotechnology; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biotechnology; microbiology; metagenomics; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Microorganisms thriving in extreme environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, hypersaline lakes, polar regions, acidic hot springs, high-pressure ecosystems, and human-made (synthetic) extreme environments like acid mine drainage (AMD), represent some of the earliest and most resilient forms of life. Their unique metabolic and physiological adaptations provide critical insights into the limits of life on Earth and, potentially, beyond it. This Special Issue aims to explore the diversity, ecological roles, and functional adaptations of microorganisms in both natural and synthetic extreme environments, emphasizing their significance in ecosystem functioning, biogeochemical cycles, and biotechnology potential. We seek to showcase novel findings in microbial genomics, functional adaptations, biosignatures, and survival strategies under extreme conditions, with relevance to extremobiology, astrobiology, and biotechnology. We invite original research articles, reviews, and short communications focusing on microbial diversity, functional genomics, metabolic pathways, biosignatures, and biotechnological applications in natural and human-made extreme environments.
Dr. Ramganesh Selvarajan
Dr. Henry Joseph Oduor Ogola
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- extremophiles
- microbial diversity
- functional adaptation
- extreme environment
- synthetic extreme environments
- biosignatures
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