title: Thermophiles: A life at elevated temperatures.
abstract: Interest in the ecology, physiology and evolution of microorganisms adapted to growth at relatively high temperatures (up to 110°C) has increased enormously during the past two decades. This interest was stimulated by the discovery of marine hydrothermal vent ecosystems, and also by awareness of the potential of thermophilic microbes in biotechnological processes. Subsequent attempts to isolate new thermophilic organisms have been very successful. Moreover, these results, in combination with much-improved techniques for studying the phylogeny of microorganisms, have renewed interest in the evolution of microbes and the early development of life.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Microbiology, University of Groningen, 9751NN Haren, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gottschal
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Prins