Identification and characterization of active substances from actinomycetes from Switzerland against pathogenic bacteria

Actinomycetales is an order within the phylum Actinobacteria. Many actinomycetes produce antibiotics. A recently discovered new antibiotic shows good activity against MRSA bacteria.

Key Data

Description

Actinomycetales is an order within the phylum Actinobacteria, which consists of 14 suborders, 49 families and over 140 genera. The majority of active ingredients used today are derived from microorganisms: 45% of active ingredients are produced by actinomycetes, 38% by fungi and 17% by bacteria.

Actinomycetes are Gram-positive bacteria that grow like mycelia and often form spiral chains of spores. Many actinomycetes produce antibiotics, such as streptomycin, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. A recently discovered new antibiotic, formicamycin from Streptomyces formicae, shows good activity against MRSA.