Chapter 20.2, Problem 1CSC

Unwelcome Dinner Guests

A few of the bacteria that commonly cause foodborne illness form endospores . For example, Bacillus cereus. a bacterial species that includes strains that cause vomiting or diarrhea in people unlucky enough to consume them, forms endospores that are widespread in soil and dust. If some spores find their way into warm, moist food, they can develop and give rise to a thriving population of bacteria. B. cereus spores are somewhat resistant to heat, but fortunately for us, they can be destroyed by thorough cooking

Although it is unsurprising that prokaryotes might thrive amidst the energy-rich substances that make up human food, our foodstuffs are hardly the only environment in which prokaryotes flourish. What are some of the more extreme environments in which bacteria and archaea can be found?