Microorganisms in Extreme Environments
A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 4
Special Issue Editor
2. National Commission for Antarctic Research of the Romanian Academy, 125 Calea Victoriei, 010071 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: extremophiles; psychrophilic; microbiota
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Extreme environments on Earth host extreme lifeforms. This Special Issue explores the fascinating world of cold-adapted microorganisms and lifeforms thriving in Earth's most extreme low-temperature environments. From the icy expanses of polar and alpine regions to the depths of oceans, cold lakes, caves, and permafrost, including snow, glaciers, and certain human-made cold settings, a diverse array of microbial life persists. These extraordinary organisms, representing the domains Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya, are broadly categorized into psychrophiles, which exclusively flourish at low temperatures, and psychrotolerants, which are capable of growth across a wider temperature range, including cold conditions.
Organisms that permanently inhabit these frigid niches have evolved remarkable cellular properties and mechanisms that are adapted for optimal survival and proliferation in cold environments. Such unique adaptations make these strains invaluable resources for various fields. Their potential is particularly significant in biotechnological industries, offering novel enzymes and processes, as well as medicine, for the development of new therapeutic agents. Furthermore, they hold promises for environmental protection and waste treatment, with a vast array of underutilized applications that can benefit human activities. This Special Issue focuses on research surrounding the isolation, ecology, cold adaptation strategies, genetics, and practical applications of these resilient psychrophilic and psychrotolerant strains, inviting authors and readers to discover the hidden potential of life in extreme environments.
Dr. Sergiu Fendrihan
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- extremophile
- psychrophilic
- biotechnology
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