Hot Environments from Antarctica: Source of Thermophiles and Hyperthermophiles, with Potential Biotechnological Applications

Antarctica, far from being an exclusively cold continent, has many geothermal sites with volcanic activity. Different islands belonging to this continent harbour different geothermal sites as thermal springs, fumaroles, hot soils and hydrothermal vents, providing ideal environments for the growth of thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms. Hyperthermophiles are an important source of enzymes and bioactive compounds with biotechnological applications. Deception Island, a horseshoe-shaped island, is the emergent part of a young active shield volcano, which is located at the southwestern part of the Bransfield Strait and has optimal and unique geological characteristics for supporting the growth of thermophilic microbes. Several thermophilic microorganisms have been isolated from this island, and several molecular studies are being carried out for obtaining bioactive compounds and enzymes of industrial interest. This review deals with thermophilic and hyperthermophilic microorganisms isolated from Antarctica and their biotechnological potential. © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013.