Microbial Diversity and Survival Strategies in Polar Environments

The polar regions offer some of the harshest and most dynamic ecosystems on Earth. These areas are defined by their extreme conditions, such as subzero temperatures, scarce liquid water, high ultraviolet radiation, and seasonal changes. Yet, they host diverse and unique microbial communities that are integral to various ecological processes. Microorganisms in these environments play key roles in nutrient cycling, primary production, climate regulation, and overall ecosystem functioning. Understanding these extremophiles can uncover the limits of life on Earth and hint at potential life in extraterrestrial conditions. Despite increasing interest, many questions remain on how these organisms cope with such stresses, and how ongoing climate changes might affect their roles and viability within the ecosystem.

This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the diversity, ecological roles, adaptation mechanisms, and biotechnological potential of microorganisms inhabiting polar regions. It seeks to address key questions on microbial adaptation strategies, community dynamics, and symbiotic interactions within their environments. A particular focus is given to understanding how environmental changes, such as warming temperatures and pollution, affect these communities, as well as identifying novel taxa and biochemical compounds that hold promise for biotechnological use.

This collection focuses on the diversity, physiology, and ecological functions of polar microorganisms. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

· Diversity and taxonomy of polar microorganisms, including prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses.

· Mechanisms of microbial adaptation to extreme cold, ultraviolet radiation, desiccation, and salinity.

· Roles of microorganisms in polar biogeochemical cycles, such as carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycling.

· Interactions between microorganisms and their hosts, including plants, animals, and other microbes in polar regions.

· Impacts of climate change and human activities on polar microbial communities.

· Discovery and exploitation of cold-adaptive enzymes, pigments, and secondary metabolites.

· Advances in cultivation, genomics, metagenomics, and other 'omics' approaches in polar microbiology.

· Discovery and exploitation of cold-adaptive enzymes, antifreeze proteins, pigments, and secondary metabolites et al.


We invite Original Research, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Methods, and Perspectives on these and related topics to expand current knowledge and drive innovation in polar microbial ecology and biotechnology.


Please note that Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: microorganisms, polar area, genomics, metagenomics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.