| Abstract | Ekstremofili su mikroorganizmi koji za svoj rast i razmnožavanje, ali i za opstanak zahtijevaju ekstremne uvjete okoline poput temperature, tlaka, pH, saliniteta, radijacije i dr. Za njih su to idealni uvjeti za život, no za većinu drugih organizama oni su štetni i pogubni. Iako se za njih zna 70-tak godina, njihovo proučavanje, izolacija i upotreba se intenzivirala u ovom stoljeću. Prilagodba ekstremnim uvjetima okoline svrstava ih među najinteresantnije mikroorganizme, a ponajviše zbog otkrivanja drugih planeta pogodnih za život izvan Zemlje. Proučavanje ekstremofila veliki je izazov za znanstvenike, budući da je za njihovu izolaciju, kultivaciju i daljnju karakterizaciju potrebna kompleksna i sofisticirana oprema, ali i laboratorijski uvjeti koji se teško postižu. Zahvaljujući upravo naporu znanstvenika danas već mnogi proizvodi mikrobnih metabolizama ekstremofila, ekstremoliti (enzimi, membranski proteini i dr.), pronalaze primjenu u biotehnološkim procesima poput dobivanja biogoriva, razgradnje biopolimera ili u prehrambenoj industriji tijekom obrade mesa, prilikom konzerviranja ili proizvodnje fermentirane hrane i pića. |
| Abstract (english) | Extremophiles are microorganisms who need for their growth and reproduction, but also survival, extreme environmental conditions such as temperature, pressure, pH, salinity, radiation, etc. These conditions are ideal for their life, but for most other organisms, they are harmful and destructive. Even though they were discovered 70 years ago, their study, isolation and use are intensified in this century. Adaptation to extreme environmental conditions classified them as most interesting microorganisms, mostly due to the detection of other planets suitable for life beyond Earth. The study of extremophiles is a major challenge for scientists, since their isolation, cultivation and further characterization requires complex and sophisticated equipment, and laboratory conditions that are difficult to achieve. Nowadays, thanks to the efforts of scientists we use many products of extremophile's microbial metabolisms, extremolytes (enzymes, membrane proteins, etc.), which find application in biotechnological processes such as obtaining biofuels, degradation of biopolymers or in the food industry for meat processing, canning of food or production of fermented foods and beverages. |
