The authors hope that this chapter has clearly demonstrated that most extreme halophiles can be cultivated using inexpensive materials and relatively simple variations of traditional methods. A combination of factors, including advances in the understanding of the differences often required between isolation media and standard laboratory media, the need for greater patience in cultivation, and molecular screening techniques have radically improved the prospects for studying the dominant haloarchaea in natural hypersaline waters. This development, along with genomic and metagenomic studies (of both cells and haloviruses) that are underway, will no doubt lead to many new insights into life in these extreme environments. List of suppliers: Greiner Bio-One GmbH. Maybachstrasse 2. D-72636 Frickenhausen, Germany. E-mail: info@de.gbo.com. 24 well per plate tissue culture trays. Fluka Chemicals. c/-Sigma Aldrich. www.sigmaaldrich.com. Pyruvic acid, sodium salt. Oxoid Limited. Wade Road, Basingstoke. Hampshire, RG24 8PW. England. E-mail: oxoid@oxoid.com. Yeast extract (L21), Peptone (L37). © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
