STREPTOMYCES

'''Streptomyces''' is the largest genus of Actinobacteria, a group of Gram-positive and generally high GC-content bacteria. Brock Biology of Microorganisms, Madigan M; Martinko J (editors)., , , Prentice Hall, 2005, ISBN 0-13-144329-1 Streptomycetes are found predominantly in soil and in decaying vegetation, and most produce spores. Streptomycetes are noted for their distinct "earthy" odor which results from production of a volatile metabolite, geosmin.
Streptomycetes are characterised by a complex secondary metabolism. They produce a large number of antibiotics that are in clinical use (Neomycin, Chloramphenicol); the now rarely used streptomycin takes its name directly from ''Streptomyces''. Streptomycetes are infrequent pathogens, though infections in human such as mycetoma can be caused by ''S. somaliensis'' and ''S. sudanensis'' and in plants such as scabies can be caused by ''S. caviscabies'' and ''S. scabies''.

Contents

Genomics

Biotechnology

Medicine

Some of the antifungals produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

Some of the antibiotics produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

Some of the anti-cancer compounds produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

References

Further reading

See also

External links

Genomics

The complete genome of one of the strain, "S. coelicolor" A3(2), was published in 2002. Complete genome sequence of the model actinomycete "Streptomyces coelicolor" A3(2)., Bentley SD, ''et al''., , , Nature, 2002 At the time, the "S. coelicolor" genome contained the largest number of genes of any bacterium. The genome sequence of ''S. avermitilis'' was completed in 2003. Complete genome sequence and comparative analysis of the industrial microorganism ''Streptomyces avermitilis''., Ikeda H; Ishikawa J; Hanamoto A; Shinose M; Kikuchi H; Shiba T; Sakaki Y; Hattori M; Omura S, , , Nat. Biotechnol., 2003 This is the first complete genome sequence of the industrial microorganism. Both of these genomes comprise a single chromosome that is linear, unlike most bacterial genomes which comprise a circular chromosome. The genome sequence of ''S. scabies'', a member of the genus with the ability to cause potato scab disease, has been determined at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and is currently in annotation, with publication scheduled for 2007.
Taxonomically, "S. coelicolor" A3(2) belongs to the species of ''S. violaceoruber'' and not a validly described separate species; don't mistake ''S. coelicolor'' A3(2) for ''S. coelicolor'' (Müller) (ATCC 23899).

Biotechnology

In recent years, biotechnology researchers have begun to use ''Streptomyces spp.'' for production of recombinant human proteins. Traditionally, ''Escherichia coli'' was the species of choice to host eukaryotic genes since it was well understood and easy to work with. ''Streptomyces'': a host for heterologous gene expression, Brawner M, Poste G, Rosenberg M, Westpheling J, , , Curr Opin Biotechnol, 1991 Improved production of heterologous protein from ''Streptomyces lividans'', Payne G, DelaCruz N, Coppella S, , , Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1990 However, ''E. coli'' introduces problems such as incorrect (or lack of) glycosylation and incorrect protein folding, resulting in insolubility and loss of bioactivity of the product. Heterologous biopharmaceutical protein expression in ''Streptomyces'', Binnie C, Cossar J, Stewart D, , , Trends Biotechnol, 1997 ''Streptomyces spp.'' on the other hand have the ability to secrete correctly folded recombinant proteins into the medium after production simplifying the subsequent purification steps. These properties among others make ''Streptomyces spp.'' an attractive alternative to other bacteria such as ''E. coli'' and ''Bacillus subtilis''.

Medicine

''Streptomyces'' is the largest antibiotic producing genus ([1]), producing both antibacterials and antifungals, and also a wide range of other bioactive compounds such as immunosuppressants

Some of the antifungals produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

:''see also polyene antimycotic''

★ Nystatin (from ''S. noursei'')

★ Amphotericin B (from ''S. nodosus'')

★ Natamycin (from ''S. natalensis'')

Some of the antibiotics produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

★ Erythromycin (from ''S. erythreus'')

★ Neomycin (from ''S. fradiae'')

★ Streptomycin (from ''S. griseus'')

★ Tetracycline (from ''S. rimosus'')

★ Vancomycin (from ''S. orientalis'')

★ Rifamycin (from ''S. mediterranei'')

★ Chloramphenicol (from ''S. venezuelae'')

Some of the anti-cancer compounds produced by ''Streptomyces'' spp.

★ Migrastatin (from ''S. platensis'')

References

Further reading

★ Genetics and Product Formation in Streptomyces, Baumberg S, , , Kluwer Academic, 1991, ISBN 978-0306438851

★ Bacteria: Antibiotic-producing Streptomyces, Gunsalus IC, , , Academic Press, 1986, ISBN 978-0123072092

★ Streptomyces in Nature and Medicine: The Antibiotic Makers, Hopwood DA, , , Oxford University Press, 2007, ISBN 978-0195150667

See also

★ List of world records

★ Antimycin A - compound produced by this bacteria used in piscicides.

External links

★ Some current ''Streptomyces'' Research & Methods / Protocols / Resources

★ ''S. avermitilis'' genome homepage (Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences)

★
★ ''S. avermitilis'' is the avermectin producer.

★ ''S. coelicolor'' A3(2) genome homepage (Sanger Institute)

★ Streptomyces.org.uk homepage (John Innes Centre)

★ ScoDB - the ''S. coelicolor'' A3(2) genome annotation server

★ Streptomyces Genome Projects from Genomes OnLine Database