Thermophile: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

A thermophile is an organism – a type of extremophile – which thrives at relatively high temperatures, up to about 60°C. Many thermophiles are archaea.

Thermophiles have been found in various geothermally heated regions of the earth such as Yellowstone National Park (shown in the image to the right).

As a prerequisite for their survival, thermophiles contain enzymes that can function at high temperature. Some of these enzymes are used in molecular biology (for example heat-stable DNA polymerases for polymerase chain reaction), and in washing agents.

Some thermophilic organisms

• Thermus aquaticus
• Thermus thermophilus
• Chloroflexus aurantiacus (photosynthetic bacterium)
• Thermococcus litoralis (see extremophiles)
• Pyrodictium abyssi (archaea)

The Pompeii worm survives the scalding temperatures surrounding deep-sea hydrothermal vents thanks to a symbiotic relationship with thermophilic bacteria.