Cold-adapted bacteria from a coastal area of the Ross Sea (Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica): linking microbial ecology to biotechnology

This review covers available information concerning the bacterial communities inhabiting coastal areas of Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica). Research was mainly focused on seawater, sediment, and benthic filter feeders. Coping with adverse environmental conditions, Antarctic bacteria have evolved peculiar strategies to survive in this harsh environment. In addition to cellular modifications, antagonistic interactions between them might have contributed to their adaptation to permanently low temperatures by reducing the presence of microbial competitors. The interrelationships existing among the members of bacterial communities, between them and their surrounding environment will be discussed. Quite interestingly, environmental selective pressures have led to the evolution of metabolic pathways responsible for the synthesis of unique secondary metabolites exhibiting a variety of biological activities. Finally, human perturbations have posed a serious questioning about the ability of microbial communities to respond to environmental anthropogenic changes in Antarctica. From a biotechnological viewpoint, bacteria inhabiting Terra Nova Bay are intriguing; indeed, many of them are able to degrade hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls at low temperatures, and tolerate heavy metals and antibiotics. After a brief description of cold-adapted bacteria, we will report on ecological roles of bacterial communities inhabiting the Terra Nova Bay, alongside a focus on biotechnological aspects of their cultivable fraction.