Microbes from Hell

Patrick Forterre

Published by University of Chicago Press 2016

Microbes from Hell

Patrick Forterre
Translated by: Teresa Lavender Fagan

https://doi.org/10.7208/9780226265964

Overview
Contents

About this book

At the close of the 1970s, the two-domain classification scheme long used by most biologists—prokaryotes versus eukaryotes—was upended by the discovery of an entirely new group of organisms: archaea. Initially thought to be bacteria, these single-celled microbes—many of which were first found in seemingly unlivable habitats like the volcanic hot springs of Yellowstone National Park—were in fact so different at molecular and genetic levels as to constitute a separate, third domain beside bacteria and eukaryotes. Their discovery sparked a conceptual revolution in our understanding of the evolution of life, and Patrick Forterre was—and still is—at the vanguard of this revolution.

In Microbes from Hell, one of the world’s leading experts on archaea and hyperthermophiles, or organisms that have evolved to flourish in extreme temperatures, offers a colorful, engaging account of this taxonomic upheaval. Blending tales of his own search for thermophiles with discussions of both the physiological challenges thermophiles face and the unique adaptations they have evolved to live in high-temperature environments, Forterre illuminates our developing understanding of the relationship between archaea and the rest of Earth’s organisms. From biotech applications to the latest discoveries in thermophile research, from microbiomes to the communities of organisms that dwell on deep-sea vents, Forterre’s exploration of life-forms that seem to thrive at the mouth of hell provides a glimpse into the early days of Earth, offering deep insight into what life may have looked like in the extreme environments of our planet’s dawn.

Author information

Patrick Forterre, former head of the Microbiology Department at the Institut Pasteur, is presently professor at the Institut Pasteur and professor emeritus at the Université Paris-Saclay, France. Teresa Lavender Fagan is a freelance translator living in Chicago; she has translated numerous books for the University of Chicago Press and other publishers.

Reviews

“Among the recentadventurers inscience, Forterre makes his mark with this exciting book that brings us along onthe discovery of life in extreme environments, a surprising and little-known world that thrived in the past and continues to thrive, andeven evolve,today. . . . The book (but not the adventure!) concludes while raising the question of the origins of life. . . . A question that never ceases tostimulate the passion of the new pioneersof science, a passion that Forterre succeeds so well in sharingwith the reader.”

— Découverte (France), on the French edition

“Scientists and industrial researchers study these incredible microbes to tap intothe extraordinary strength of their proteins fornumerous applications. Throughthe proteins they produce, these microbes have in fact already paved the way for thesequencing ofthe human genome and the identification of genetic fingerprints in a hair or sperm! Where dothese extreme microbescome from, how are they related tous, how have they adapted to the diabolicalconditions oftheir environments, and have they always lived there?—questions to understand how life began on Earth.”

— Science Magazine (France), on the French edition

“Scientists who deal in the history of life have never been quite sure what to do with viruses. . . . Viruses, Forterre argues, bequeathed DNA to all living things. Trace the ancestry of your genes back far enough, in other words, and you bump into a virus. Other experts on the early evolution of life see Forterre’s theory as bold and significant. But although they find much to agree with—particularly the importance of viruses to evolution—many also regard Forterre’s ideas as controversial. . . . Forterre himself is trying to fill that gap by studying viruses that live in heat-loving archaeans. Archaean viruses are proving to be particularly diverse and bizarre—such as lemon-shaped species that don’t finish growing until they have left their host cell. Because viruses have such ancient roots, they preserve a remarkable range of biochemical tricks.”

— Carl Zimmer, Science

“This excellent, brief book from one of the key players in the fields of microbiology and the evolution of hyperthermophiles discusses not only the microbes but also the major scientists who discovered and study them. Forterre does this in a most interesting and humorous, but also tactful, manner, without losing the focus on the science. Exceptionally well-planned and written in a vivid, most engaging style, the entire presentation has a thrilling sense of immediacy and excitement. In large part, this is because the study of hyperthermophiles is by no account limited to the laboratory bench. An integral aspect of this work includes expeditions to areas of hydrothermal activity, both high up in the mountains and deep down on the ocean floor. Apart from these exotic aspects, Forterre does an excellent job in conveying the excitement of research itself, in particular by providing a simple but accurate exposition of the logic of comparative genomic analysis. Highly educational, accessible, and well balanced.”

— Eugene V. Koonin, National Center for Biotechnology Information, on the French edition

“This is history told by a scientist who helped to make it. . . . His book walks the reader through his fascinating journey to understand how life evolved. Today, Forterre believes that viruses played a vital part. Microbes from Hell, in interweaving a scientific life with the grand discovery of the archaea, is a wonderful homage to this exciting field, which continues to challenge our view of life’s origins.”

— Sonja-Verena Albers, University of Freiburg, Nature

“The discovery of archaea not only changed the shape of the tree of life; it also raised questions about the common ancestor at the base of that tree and offered clues about how it may have lived. Forterre guides you through the different ideas and how they developed, including an unexpected role for viruses. This is what the book has been building towards, a rewarding discussion of competing theories about the ancestor of all living things by one of the scientists involved in the debate. As all the pieces come together, you’re left in a richer world, one full of unknown wonders, unanswered questions, and broader horizons.”

— Sedeer el-Showk, ZME Science

Topics

General Interest

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Prologue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
1. A Bit of History: Microbes and Humans Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	6
2. Hunting Hyperthermophiles and Their Viruses: From the Great Depths to the Laboratory Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	51
3. How Do You Live in Hell? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	90
4. The Universal Tree of Life: Where to Place Microbes from Hell and Their Viruses? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	131
5. The Universal Tree of Life: Are Microbes from Hell Our Ancestors? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	181
Epilogue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	228
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	231
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	233
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	247
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	267

Language: English
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 288
Illustrations
- Other: 45 halftones
Keywords: microbiology; hyperthermophiles; extremophiles; archaea; Carl Woese; reverse gyrase; meiosis; origin of life; origin of viruses; origin of eukaryotes

eBook

Published: October 7, 2016
ISBN: 9780226265964