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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Molecular Mechanisms of Algal and Microbial Adaptation to Extreme Temperature...
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Molecular Mechanisms of Algal and Microbial Adaptation to Extreme Temperature Conditions

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1172

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Senjie Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA
Interests: marine algae; eukaryotic microbes; molecular ecology; functional genomics; microbial interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Tangcheng Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science, Shantou University, Shantou, China
Interests: algae; phytoplankton; habitat restoration; climate change; human activities

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As global warming continues to reshape our planet, understanding how algae and microbes adapt to changing temperatures has become increasingly crucial. Algae and microbes thriving in extreme environments—such as polar regions, equatorial waters, snowfields, hot springs, and hydrothermal vents—offer valuable insights into these adaptive processes. By studying algae and microbes that survive and flourish under both freezing and denaturing temperatures, researchers can uncover the molecular mechanisms that enable these organisms to cope with temperature fluctuations. This Special Issue aims to bring together and highlight the latest research on this topic, providing phycologists and microbiologists with a comprehensive resource to advance their studies and explore the complex strategies these organisms employ to thrive in diverse thermal conditions. We look forward to your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Senjie Lin
Dr. Tangcheng Li
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • algae
  • molecular mechanisms
  • genomic
  • adaptation
  • plasticity
  • extremophiles
  • thermophilic
  • psychrophilic
  • temperature effects
  • global warming

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 1494 KB  
Article
Polysaccharide Utilization and Adhesion Enable the Genome-Streamlined Opacimonas immobilis to Adapt to the Diatom Phycosphere
by Xiaoyu Yang, Xuanru Lin, Jianmin Xie, Runlin Cai, Guanjing Cai and Hui Wang
Microorganisms 2026, 14(1), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14010139 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Heterotrophic bacteria and microalgae are key regulators of marine biogeochemical cycles. The phycosphere, a nutrient-rich microenvironment surrounding microalgae, serves as a crucial interface for bacterial–algal interactions. Our previous work identified Opacimonas immobilis LMIT016T, a phycosphere isolate from the diatom Actinocyclus curvatulus [...] Read more.
Heterotrophic bacteria and microalgae are key regulators of marine biogeochemical cycles. The phycosphere, a nutrient-rich microenvironment surrounding microalgae, serves as a crucial interface for bacterial–algal interactions. Our previous work identified Opacimonas immobilis LMIT016T, a phycosphere isolate from the diatom Actinocyclus curvatulus that possesses the smallest genome within the Alteromonadaceae family. However, its adaptation mechanisms to the phycosphere remain unclear, particularly given its extensive genome streamlining, a process involving the selective loss of non-essential and energetically costly genes to enhance fitness in nutrient-specific niches. Here, the co-cultivation experiments demonstrated significant mutual growth promotion between LMIT016T and its host microalgae, with the bacterium forming dense attachments on diatom surfaces. Genomic analysis revealed that in addition to loss of motility-related genes, the strain exhibits a substantial reduction in c-di-GMP signaling components, including both synthases and receptors. Conversely, LMIT016T harbors numerous genes essential for extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) biosynthesis and adhesion, supporting long-term attachment and biofilm formation. Other retained genes encode pathways for nutrient acquisition, stress response, and phosphate and nitrogen metabolism, reflecting its adaptations to the nutrient-rich phycosphere. Furthermore, the genome of LMIT016T encodes two polysaccharide utilization loci (PULs) targeting laminarin and α-1,4-glucans, whose functions were experimentally validated by the transcriptional induction of the corresponding carbohydrate-active enzyme genes. These findings indicate that this strain counterbalances genome reduction by enhancing its attachment capabilities and metabolic specialization on algal polysaccharides, potentially facilitating stable association with diatom cells. Our results suggest that genome streamlining may represent an alternative ecological strategy in the phycosphere, highlighting a potential evolutionary trade-off between metabolic efficiency and niche specialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Algal and Microbial Adaptation to Extreme Temperature Conditions)
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