Final answer:
A mesophile is an organism that prefers moderate temperatures, mainly between 20°C and 45°C, which includes many human pathogens and organisms used in food production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term mesophile refers to organisms that thrive at moderate temperatures, commonly found within the range of 20°C to 45°C. Mesophiles include various bacteria and fungi that are optimal for food processing and live in environments such as the human body. Pathogenic mesophiles have an optimal growth temperature of 37°C, which is the normal human body temperature. These organisms are crucial to the production of foods such as cheese, yogurt, and fermented beverages like beer and wine.
Mesophiles should not be confused with thermophiles or psychrophiles, which prefer hotter (above 50°C) and colder (below 20°C) environments, respectively. Adaptations for surviving at these various temperature ranges include changes in membrane lipids and proteins to maintain functionality.