Alkaliphiles: Diversity and Identification

Abstract

Micro-organisms that grow in hostile or extreme environments are currently a popular subject for study. The fascination with so-called ‘extremophiles’ reflects a perceived microbial biotechnological importance and a desire to investigate possible early conditions on Earth and the origins of life. Extremes of pH represent a particularly hostile regime for microbial life, especially when combined with extremes of salinity or temperature.This review deals with some of the aspects of micro-organisms that inhabit environments in the alkaline range of the pH spectru