Trine Bertram Rasmussen

Abstract Mt. Erebus, Antarctica, is the southernmost active volcano in the world and harbors a diverse and geochemically unique array of geothermal ecosystems including 'Subglacial' and 'Exposed' features, surrounded by a vast desert of ice and snow. Previous studies, although limited in scope, have highlighted the unique and potentially endemic biota present on Mt. Erebus.

1 INTRODUCTION Recombinant protein expression and large-scale purification are cornerstones of the biotech industry. Such heterologous proteins are often expressed by either a genetically engineered protein production strain of Escherichia coli or a fed-batch-fermentation stable strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.1, 2 Human insulin is perhaps the most famous example of a high-value peptide expressed recombinantly from a microorganism. Insulin was initially produced at high titers from E.