title: High-Up: A Remote Reservoir of Microbial Extremophiles in Central Andean Wetlands.
abstract: The Central Andes region displays unexplored ecosystems of shallow lakes and salt flats at mean altitudes of 3700 m. Being isolated and hostile, these so-called "High-Altitude Andean Lakes" (HAAL) are pristine and have been exposed to little human influence. HAAL proved to be a rich source of microbes showing interesting adaptations to life in extreme settings (poly-extremophiles) such as alkalinity, high concentrations of arsenic and dissolved salts, intense dryness, large daily ambient thermal amplitude, and extreme solar radiation levels. This work reviews HAAL microbiodiversity, taking into account different microbial niches, such as plankton, benthos, microbial mats and microbialites. The modern stromatolites and other microbialites discovered recently at HAAL are highlighted, as they provide unique modern-though quite imperfect-analogs of environments proxy for an earlier time in Earth's history (volcanic setting and profuse hydrothermal activity, low atmospheric O2 pressure, thin ozone layer and high UV exposure). Likewise, we stress the importance of HAAL microbes as model poly-extremophiles in the study of the molecular mechanisms underlying their resistance ability against UV and toxic or deleterious chemicals using genome mining and functional genomics. In future research directions, it will be necessary to exploit the full potential of HAAL poly-extremophiles in terms of their biotechnological applications. Current projects heading this way have yielded detailed molecular information and functional proof on novel extremoenzymes: i.e., DNA repair enzymes and arsenic efflux pumps for which medical and bioremediation applications, respectively, are envisaged. But still, much effort is required to unravel novel functions for this and other molecules that dwell in a unique biological treasure despite its being hidden high up, in the remote Andes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de TucumánTucumán, Argentina; Centro Integral de Microscopía Electrónica, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICETTucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Virginia H
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Albarracín
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Omar F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belfiore
authors.affiliation: CONICET Centro de Excelencia en Productos y Procesos de la Provincia de CórdobaCórdoba, Argentina; Facultad de Química e Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica ArgentinaRosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luccini
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física Rosario, CONICET Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosario, Argentina; Facultad Regional Concepción del Uruguay, Universidad Tecnológica NacionalConcepción del Uruguay, Argentina.
authors.forename: Graciela M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Salum
authors.affiliation: Facultad Regional Concepción del Uruguay, Universidad Tecnológica NacionalConcepción del Uruguay, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Ingeniería y Agrimensura, Universidad Nacional de RosarioRosario, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ruben D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Investigaciones Microbiológicas de Lagunas Andinas, Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales y Microbiológicos, Centro Científico Tecnológico, CONICET Tucumán, Argentina.
authors.forename: María E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Farías
keywords: astrobiology; central andes; extremophiles; genomes; microbe; microbialites; stromatolites