Acidophile

An acidophile is an organism whose optimal growth occurs at low pH. Many acidophiles maintain a near-neutral cytoplasm while living in highly acidic surroundings.

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pH homeostasis: The regulation of internal acidity so cells can maintain conditions compatible with biological processes. Acidophiles must keep their cytoplasm far less acidic than their surroundings.
pH: A logarithmic measure of hydrogen-ion activity in a solution. Acidophile habitats are identified by their low pH.
Bioleaching: The extraction of metals from ores using microorganisms or their metabolic products. Acidophiles oxidize iron and sulfur, helping dissolve metals from low-grade ores.
Picrophilus: A genus of archaea that grows at extremely low pH and high temperatures. Its species include some of the most acid-loving organisms known.
Proton pump: A membrane protein that uses energy to move protons across a biological membrane. Some acidophiles use proton transport to limit the entry of excess acidity.
Extremophile: An organism adapted to grow under environmental conditions that are extreme for most life. Acidophiles are classified among organisms adapted to environmental extremes.
Acid mine drainage: Acidic, metal-rich water formed when sulfide minerals are exposed to oxygen and water. Acidophilic microbes can accelerate the reactions that produce this pollution.
Ferroplasma acidarmanus: An iron-oxidizing archaeon isolated from highly acidic mine environments. It lacks a cell wall and thrives in metal-rich, extremely acidic drainage.
Archaeal membrane: A cell membrane built from archaeal lipids, which have distinctive ether-linked isoprenoid chains. Ether-linked lipids can help some acid-loving archaea resist acidic conditions.
Cardinal temperatures: The minimum, optimum, and maximum temperatures at which an organism can grow. The same growth-curve logic identifies an organism's optimum pH.