The Challenge:
Halophilic archaea (HA) are ideal for biotechnological processes because they thrive in extreme conditions, requiring minimal sterility and no freshwater. However, unlike other microorganisms like fungi, algae, and bacteria, HA are underutilized in large-scale biotechnology. Currently, HA are mostly used for producing carotenoids, like bacterioruberin, and other high-value compounds. The primary species used, Halobacterium salinarum, has limitations such as the need for several amino acids, genomic instability, and slow growth, making it less suitable for industrial use.

The Solution:
To unlock the full potential of HA in industry, a robust, fast-growing strain is needed. Haloferax mediterranei shows promise due to its ability to grow on various low-cost substrates like algal hydrolysate and cheese whey. However, it’s not yet used in large-scale production, partly due to its long generation time unless grown under optimal conditions.

We identified and characterized a strain called Haloferax Atlit (48N). Initially, this strain grew well in the lab but was chronically infected by a virus, which suppressed its defenses, including CRISPR-Cas.

Advantages of the new strain obtained by removing the virus through genome engineering:
• Significantly higher growth rates- at commonly used temperatures-2.5 fold with a generation time of approximately 1 hour at 45°C (now it is comparable to yeast and some bacteria used in       industrial processes)
• Better immunity – resistance to viral infections

All the above make this strain a strong candidate for biotechnological applications and further improvements.

Potential applications:
• Production of carotenoids
• Biomass production or for producing biochemicals of interest including carotenoids or PHAs (building blocks for plastic).
• Bioremediation processes in high salt, such as denitrification, phosphate accumulation or BOD reduction
• Functional feed ingredients
• Cosmetics and supplements