Research Keyword: actinomycetes

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

Scientists have discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae that lives with ants in African acacia trees and produces powerful antibiotics. This bacterium naturally makes compounds called formicamycins that can kill dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA, as well as antifungal compounds. Researchers are using advanced gene-editing techniques to unlock more hidden antimicrobial compounds from this bacterium’s genome, which could lead to discovering new medicines to treat infections.

Read More »

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

Scientists discovered a special bacterium called Streptomyces formicae living in ant nests in Africa that produces powerful antibiotics effective against dangerous drug-resistant bacteria and fungi. This bacterium has the genetic potential to make at least 45 different antimicrobial compounds, though most are not currently being produced under standard laboratory conditions. Using advanced gene-editing techniques like CRISPR, researchers are working to activate these hidden pathways to discover new medicines. This research demonstrates how exploring bacteria in nature can lead to finding new antibiotics to treat serious infections.

Read More »
Scroll to Top