ABSTRACT
Microorganisms have developed several mechanisms to survive the challenging marine conditions. Among these mechanisms is the production of polysaccharides. The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is essential to the establishment of biofilm communities on surfaces, where individual cells become protected while having access to essential nutrients. In icy environments, EPS provide protection from ice crystal formation and also from the high salinity resulting from marine salts expelled from the ice. In hydrothermal vents, EPS molecules can make the biosorption of toxic metallic ions such as lead and cadmium. Cells in intertidal pools benefit from the EPS protection against salinity, temperature, desiccation, and mainly UV radiation. This chapter discusses not only the production of polysaccharides and their role in protecting microbial organisms in marine environments but also their potential application as, for example, biosorbents of heavy metals, biosurfactants for the bioremediation of oil, and moisturizer and skin protector in cosmetics.
