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Xerophiles are extremophilic organisms that can grow and reproduce in conditions with a low availability of water, also known as water activity. Water activity (a_w) is a measure of the amount of water within a substrate that an organism can use to support growth. Xerophiles are often said to be "xerotolerant", meaning tolerant of dry conditions. They can survive in environments with water activity below 0.8. Endoliths and halophiles are often xerotolerant.

The common food preservation method of reducing water activities may not prevent the growth of xerophilic organisms, often resulting in food spoilage. Many mold and yeast species are xerophilic. Mold growth on bread is an example of food spoilage by xerophilic organisms.

This naming comes from the greek "xeros" meaning dry, and "philos" meaning "loving."

Examples:

• Trichosporonoides nigrescens¹
• Cacti are also a type of xerophile.

See also

• Xerophyte

References

1. ^ Hocking AD; Pitt JI. (December 1981). "Trichosporonoides nigrescens sp. nov., a new xerophilic yeast-like fungus". Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 47 (5): 411–21. doi:10.1007/BF00426003. PMID 7198892. 

v • d • e Extremophiles Categories Acidophile · Alkaliphile · Capnophile · Endolith · Halophile · Hyperthermophile · Hypolith · Lipophile  · Lithoautotroph · Lithophile  · Oligotroph · Osmophile · Piezophile · Polyextremophile · Psychrophile · Thermophile · Xerophile Notable extremophiles Chloroflexus aurantiacus · Deinococcus radiodurans · Deinococcus-Thermus · Paralvinella sulfincola · Pompeii worm · Pyrococcus furiosus · Snottite · Strain 121 · Thermus aquaticus · Thermus thermophilus · Spirochaeta americana · Tardigrada Related articles Archaea · Abiogenic petroleum origin · Acidithiobacillales · Acidobacteria · Archaeoglobaceae · Berkeley Pit · Crenarchaeota · Grylloblattidae · Halobacteria · Halobacterium · Hydrothermal vent · Methanopyrus · Radioresistance · Thermostability · Thermotogae

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