Unveiling the high pressure biosphere with new experimental technologies

A majority of Earth's microbiome survives in the deep subsurface. However, little is known about the physiology of these species as few cultured representatives have been isolated. Despite the ubiquity of high-pressure ecosystems, high-pressure sampling and cultivation technologies are infrequently deployed, limiting our understanding of the diversity and in situ activity of piezophiles. By applying technologies that better replicate subsurface environments, we have expanded the catalog of piezophiles, including their response to pressure fluctuations, and have also undertaken new sampling techniques that target those species that are sensitive to decompression.