The Survival of Haloferax mediterranei under Stressful Conditions

Haloarchaea can survive and thrive under exposure to a wide range of extreme environmental factors, which represents a potential interest to biotechnology. Growth responses to different stressful conditions were examined in the haloarchaeon Haloferax mediterranei R4. It has been demonstrated that this halophilic archaeon is able to grow between 10 and 32.5% (w/v) of sea water, at 32-52 degrees C, although it is expected to grow in temperatures lower than 32 degrees C, and between 5.75 and 8.75 of pH. Moreover, it can also grow under high metal concentrations (nickel, lithium, cobalt, arsenic), which are toxic to most living beings, making it a promising candidate for future biotechnological purposes and industrial applications. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis quantified the intracellular ion concentrations of these four metals in Hfx. mediterranei, concluding that this haloarchaeon can accumulate Li+, Co2+, As5+, and Ni2+ within the cell. This paper is the first report on Hfx. mediterranei in which multiple stress conditions have been studied to explore the mechanism of stress resistance. It constitutes the most detailed study in Haloarchaea, and, as a consequence, new biotechnological and industrial applications have emerged.

Automated summary

Haloarchaea, such as Haloferax mediterranei R4, have shown the ability to thrive under extreme environmental conditions, making them potential candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications. These microorganisms can grow in high salt concentrations, temperatures, pH levels, and metal concentrations, showing promise for future research and development in the field.