Why Archaea Could Be the Answer to Biotech and Environmental Challenges

Many of us are familiar with two types of life forms: bacteria such as E. coli, and eukaryotic cells which include our own human cells as well as tree cells, fungi, unicellular organisms and much, much more. 

Unknown to most is a third life form, the archaea. These single-cell organisms are some of the least studied forms of life, yet I believe they hold immense potential for biotech and humanity at large.

What are archaea?

Archaea are unicellular organisms lacking a nucleus bound by a membrane. Previously thought to have evolved from or prior to bacteria, most recent analysis now places these organisms as being much more closely related to eukaryotic cells.

Archaea cells. Image credit: SwissBioPics

Archaea are special. They’re resistant to extreme conditions, and are found just about everywhere. The organisms possess a very tough outer cell wall which means you can find  them in Arctic and Tundra temperatures just as well as you’ll find some thrive in natural hot water springs.

If you’re wondering why we haven’t studied them as much, it’s probably because there wasn’t a medical need to. Archaea, to this date, have never been found to be pathogenic, either against humans or any other animal. Though some live in our guts, they live in a rather peaceful, symbiotic relationship.

So what distinguishes them as a third life form?

The differences between archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes

To recap, life on Earth is split into three domains: archaea, bacteria, and eukaryotes. At a glance, archaea might seem like just another type of bacteria as they’re both prokaryotic in nature (lacking a nucleus). But genetically, archaea have more in common with eukaryotic cells, which include our own.

The leading theory is that a long time ago, an ancestral archaeon merged with a bacterial cell, kicking off the evolution of eukaryotic cells. This would place Archaea as an ancestor for eukaryotic cells, rather than simply being a third domain of life. Unlike bacteria, archaea have some quirky features, like unique membrane lipids and enzymes that behave more like those in eukaryotic cells. They’ve been quietly doing their thing for billions of years, thriving in extreme places and having an interesting role in our ecosystem.

Here’s how archaea are different from bacteria and eukaryotes:

Cell Type	Archaea	Bacteria	Eukaryotes
Cell Structure	Prokaryotic	Prokaryotic	Eukaryotic
Cell Membrane	Unique lipids (ether-linked)	Phospholipids (ester-linked)	Phospholipids (ester-linked)
Genetic Material	Circular DNA, histone-like proteins	Circular DNA, no histones	Linear DNA, histones
Ribosomes	70S, similar to eukaryotic ribosomes	70S	80S
Habitat	Extreme environments and normal environments	Diverse environments	Mostly non-extreme environments

Potential uses and benefits of archaea

As you might begin to realize, the nature of archaea means that there could be hidden potential within this organism, perhaps even the cure to life-threatening diseases.

The uses, benefits, and potential applications of archaea.

Here are the top seven reasons why I think archaea are the next big thing in biotech. Who knows, 2025 might be the year of the archaea!

Archaea are extremophiles

Many archaea thrive in environments where nothing else can survive. Take, for example, P. fumarii living in 99°C hydrothermal vents at the bottom of oceans with high salt, pH, and organic compounds. This ability makes them invaluable for processes that need to occur in extreme conditions. Archaea could be used in various ways:

• Using the organism itself, like digesting organic waste

• Studying their enzymes, which can withstand high heat and extreme pH levels, and using those in industrial processes. These enzymes could even be expressed in separate vectors

Archaea contain untapped genetic elements

Although most common vectors are fully sequenced, there’s still a vast amount of unexplored genetic material in archaea. This is exciting because it means there are unknown promoters, regulatory elements, and genes to discover. What could be unlocked by diving into these uncharted territories?

Archaea are non-pathogenic

A non-pathogenic vector is a major win for lab safety. With archaea, there’s a much lower risk of contamination or harm to staff. For example, Methanospirillum is classified as risk level 1, which is the lowest on the safety scale. This makes them easier to work with and more reliable for research.

Archaea have unique biolipids

Archaea have a unique class of biolipids that are structurally different from those found in other organisms. These biolipids have potential applications in pharmaceuticals, biofuels, and even food production.

Archaea may lead to new antibiotics

Archaea may hold the key to new antibiotics. Many of them live in environments where they must fend off other microbes, making them a goldmine for discovering novel antimicrobial compounds that could help combat antibiotic resistance.

Archaea produce heat stable proteins

Some archaea produce proteins that remain stable under extreme conditions and exhibit unique biochemical properties. These proteins could be used in industrial applications like enzyme catalysis or bioengineering, where stability and resilience in harsh environments are essential.

Archaea can extract copper

Some archaea have evolved ways to extract metals like copper from their surroundings. This could be harnessed for biotechnological applications, including more sustainable mining practices or even waste recovery.

Archaea can improve sewage treatment

Archaea are well-suited for sewage treatment processes. Their ability to break down complex organic compounds in harsh environments could lead to more efficient, eco-friendly wastewater treatment systems.

Here are a few companies that have used archaea or an archaea bioproduct:

• Arkeon Biotechnologies: This Austrian startup employs archaea in their fermentation process to convert CO₂ into essential amino acids, aiming to produce sustainable ingredients for the plant-based meat industry.

• Shimizu Construction: In 1985, this company developed a bioreactor using Methanosarcina archaea to treat wastewater from food processing and paper mills, efficiently breaking down waste and utilizing methane produced as an energy source.

So is 2025 the year of the archaea?

Maybe 2025 is the year we finally start paying attention to archaea. They’re tough, adaptable, and could hold the key to solving big challenges. Who knows, this could be the year they make their mark in biotech. They could help transform waste into energy or lead to the discovery of new antibiotics. Only time will tell!