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Microbe Profile: Streptomyces formicae KY5: an ANT-ibiotic factory

Summary

Scientists discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae living with plant-ants in Africa that produces powerful antibiotics. This bacterium can kill dangerous drug-resistant bacteria and fungi that are hard to treat with current medicines. By using genetic tools, researchers are unlocking the bacterium’s hidden potential to create many more new antibiotics that could help fight infections.

Background

Streptomyces formicae KY5 was isolated from Tetraponera penzigi plant-ant nests in central Africa. The bacterium is part of a mutualistic relationship where it may protect a cultivated fungus from disease through antibiotic production. This strain produces multiple bioactive compounds with potential medical applications.

Objective

To characterize Streptomyces formicae KY5 as a novel antibiotic-producing strain and explore its biosynthetic capacity for drug discovery. The research aims to understand the regulation of secondary metabolism and activate silent biosynthetic gene clusters to discover new antimicrobial compounds.

Results

S. formicae has a 9.6 Mbp linear chromosome with 71.4% GC content and encodes at least 45 biosynthetic gene clusters, many producing novel compounds. The strain produces formicamycins with potent activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and an uncharacterized antifungal compound effective against drug-resistant fungi including Lomentospora prolificans.

Conclusion

S. formicae represents a valuable source for antimicrobial discovery with significant untapped biosynthetic potential. Genetic rewiring of secondary metabolism regulation may unlock production of novel bioactive molecules currently silent under standard laboratory conditions.
  • Published in:Microbiology (Reading),
  • Study Type:Microbe Profile/Research Review,
  • Source: PMID: 41133737, DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001623
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