Application of Extremophiles in Food Industries

Abstract

Extremophiles have adapted themselves at extreme environmental conditions like high or low temperature, pH, salinity, and pressure. Extremophiles may be either acidophilic, alkaliphilic, halophilic, thermophilic, psychrophilic, oligotrophic, endolithic, and xerophilic. There extremozymes are found to be biocatalysts and producers of novel enzymes which can be employed in many industries like food, cosmetics, chemical, pharmaceuticals, etc. Currently the researchers have developed keen interest in studying and utilizing the abilities of these extremophiles in food industries. Metabolic pathways and extremozymes are being studied by the researchers and they are trying to utilize its characteristics and also engineer these extremophiles. In food industries, one of the extremophiles, Rhodothermus marinus, which has been an excellent biocatalyst producing lipase as an enzyme, could be utilized to improve to aroma of food and add natural flavour to food. So, the current chapter will deal with the various applications of these extremophiles.