Recently Found 'Heat-Resistant Amoeba' Can Thrive in Extreme Heat

Researchers have unveiled a remarkable single-celled organism that sets a new record for heat tolerance among eukaryotes with a nucleus and cell wall. The species, named Incendiamoeba cascadensis ("fire amoeba from the Cascades"), can survive and reproduce in water temperatures up to 63C (145.4F). At 70C (158F), it enters a dormant but recoverable state, surpassing the previous record of 60C.

Microbiologists Angela Oliverio and Beryl Rappaport of Syracuse University discovered the amoeba in a hot stream at Lassen Volcanic National Park in Californias Cascade range. Initially observed thriving at 57Cits natural stream temperaturethe researchers gradually increased the heat to 60C, 64C, and even 70C, with the organism continuing to grow and move actively.

Unlike most eukaryotes, which are highly sensitive to heat, this fire amoeba maintains reproductive activity at temperatures that would be lethal to most multicellular life. While bacteria can endure even higher heat, Incendiamoeba cascadensis demonstrates that eukaryotes can survive far beyond previously known limits, marking a significant leap from earlier fungal record-holders.

The discovery has implications beyond microbiology, suggesting that eukaryotic life may be more resilient under extreme conditions than once thought. Such organisms could offer insights for drug development and astrobiology, pointing to environments where life might exist beyond Earth.

The researchers noted that their study focused on a single hot stream, leaving open the possibility that other extraordinary microbes remain undiscovered in similar extreme habitats. Future explorations may reveal additional heat-adapted species in this remarkable ecosystem.

Author: Ethan Caldwell