Thermophiles are gaining immense attention due to the extensive roles of thermophilic secondary metabolites in therapeutics. Thermophiles have presented a new age of novel molecules as they are able to adjust their metabolic pathways to unfavorable physicochemical conditions. This has widened the scope of application of thermophilic secondary metabolites in industries including pharmaceutical industries, medicine, and other life-saving activities. A good understanding of the secondary metabolites and/or factors that bestow these characteristics on thermophiles can lead to the discovery of new drugs. Even though mesophilic and psychrophilic microorganisms have wide ranges of therapeutic applications, they are unable to optimize productivity due to their inability to withstand high-temperature conditions. Thermophilic microorganisms offer a convenient, stable, and cost-efficient means of increasing productivity. Over the decades, the exploitation of thermophiles has been hindered du

Bacteriocins, Colonization, Coprostanol, Diketopiperazines, Plasminogen and Thermolytes

Several research reports have demonstrated the role of microbial (thermophilic) secondary metabolites in the management of health conditions such as the conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol, drug delivery, detoxification, production of scaffolds materials for stem cell culture etc. despite most of the mechanisms and metabolic pathways of the microbes are not properly understood. Limited knowledge in this regard has restricted the exploitation of these secondary metabolites to their full potentials. Antimicrobial agents such as probiotics, antibiotics, drugs etc. produced by thermophilic microorganisms have greater industrial potential due to their thermostability. Therefore, further investigation into the features of thermophilic secondary metabolites is a prospective avenue for drug discovery and other medical remedies.

Ameho, S. and Christina, E. (2021). A Review on the Therapeutic Roles of Selected Thermophilic Secondary Metabolites. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(2): 83-94.