xerophilic

Edge evidence

• low water activity environment selects for xerophilic METPO:2007401

  Persistent low-aw habitats favor organisms with active xerophilic growth.

  • DOI:10.1098/rstb.2004.1502 Low-water-activity review supports growth at very low aw as the defining xerophile feature.
• xerophilic enables response to osmotic stress RO:0002327

  Xerophilic organisms mount sustained osmotic adaptation supporting growth under low-aw stress.

  • DOI:10.3390/microorganisms10020432 Anhydrobiosis review supports low-aw adaptation as the physiological context distinguishing xerophilic growth from desiccation survival.
• low water activity environment increases compatible solute accumulation RO:0002213

  Low water activity drives intracellular accumulation of compatible solutes (osmolytes).

  • DOI:10.34293/sijash.v7i3.473 Microbes respond to low aw primarily via intracellular accumulation of compatible solutes (osmolytes) — broad cross-microbial statement.
• low-molecular-weight polyols (glycerol, erythritol, arabitol) enables osmotic adjustment RO:0002327

  Low-molecular-weight polyols are effective compatible solutes for osmotic adjustment at low aw.

  • DOI:10.1007/978-3-031-81904-9_3 Polyols with lower molecular weight such as glycerol, erythritol, and arabitol were more effective for osmotic adjustment.
• high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway increases response to osmotic stress RO:0002213

  Activation of the HOG pathway drives osmotic adaptation under low-aw/high-osmolarity stress.

  • DOI:10.3390/jof10040290 Adaptation by activating the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) pathway; pathway-level edge relevant across low-aw settings.
• low water activity environment increases plasma membrane fluidity alteration RO:0002213

  Low-aw/hypersaline stress drives alteration of plasma membrane fluidity as a broad fungal adaptation.

  • DOI:10.3390/jof10040290 Fungi employ physiological adaptations including altering plasma membrane fluidity; broad adaptation likely relevant across low-aw settings.