Dr. Endah Retnaningrum has been inaugurated as a professor of microbiology at the UGM Faculty of Biology (Biology UGM). The inauguration ceremony occurred at the Senate Hall on Tuesday (May 28).
The Head of the Ph.D. Program at Biology UGM delivered a speech titled “Diversity, Metabolism, and Applications of Extremophilic Microorganisms in Various Fields to Support Human Welfare.”
Professor Retnaningrum’s topic is based on her extensive research on extremophilic microorganisms, known for their ability to survive and thrive in extreme physical and chemical environmental conditions.
“Extreme physical conditions include pressure, oxygen, temperature, and drought, while extreme chemical conditions include acidity/alkalinity, salinity, low nutrients, antibiotic exposure, and pollutants,” she explained.
She highlighted that extremophilic microorganisms possess cellular and genetic mechanisms to survive under extreme conditions. These extreme conditions can occur in macroenvironments or microenvironments.
Macroenvironmental extremes include sulfur-rich hot springs, deep-sea environments, highly saline lakes, acidic lakes, wetlands, and dry lands. Microenvironmental extremes can be found in low-acid stomachs, bile salt-rich small intestines, and antibiotic-exposed host tissues.
She also mentioned that extremophilic microorganisms can adapt cellularly and genetically to extreme conditions through unique metabolism and biomolecule synthesis.
These microorganisms, both in their cellular forms and biomolecular products, are crucial and intriguing due to their potential as agents or innovative products in various fields, including pharmaceuticals, medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications, which benefit human welfare.
“Therefore, it is understandable that extremophilic microorganisms have a vast potential to be applied as agents or innovative products beneficial for human welfare,” she stated.
Extremophilic microorganisms’ diverse cellular, metabolic, and genetic nature are expected to be developed as agents or innovative products that can contribute to human welfare.
With its archipelago stretching from Sabang to Merauke, Indonesia holds a wealth of local extremophilic microorganisms with significant potential, particularly for the benefit of Indonesia and the world.
Author: Agung Nugroho
Photographer: Firsto