Actinomycetes: Ultimate Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds Production

Every day, increased microbial resistance demands the search for new natural sources that can produce natural and effective antimicrobial compounds. Actinomycetes are attractive microorganisms with an enormous and unlimited potential to produce economically and biotechnologically important metabolites. Approximately 75% of all bioactive compounds produced so far originate from this group of bacteria. Many of these compounds have been successfully isolated and converted into valuable medications and other naturally derived synthetic compounds with antimicrobial and chemotherapeutic properties. The antimicrobial agents produced by this valuable group of prokaryotes were effectively used to rival parasites and other microbes for assets. They include many genera, each with the potential to produce various novel products. For example, one of the leading genera is Streptomyces, which contributes 70% of total antibiotics such as macrolide, aminoglycoside, Rifamycin, Ivermectin, chloramphenicol, and a large number of other medicinally valuable antimicrobial agents. It also includes anticancer agents as well. Similar to Streptomyces, Micromonospora is another major source of antibiotics producing Tetrocarcins, Fortimicins, Antlermicins, Sagamicins, Mutamicins, Verdamicins, Sisomicins, Calicheamicin, and gentamicin. Other rare actinomycetes are potential producers of novel and broad-spectrum antibiotics, including Salinosporamide A, Marinomycin A, Arenimycin, Vancomycin, Abyssomicins, and Proximicins. Due to the expanding studies, data on the production of various metabolites by this unique and outstanding phylum is expanding daily. This review has made an effort to improve the pre-available knowledge on producing and characterizing novel antimicrobial compounds with therapeutic potential from terrestrial and marine actinomycetes.