Utility of Streptomyces spp. In health

22nd Dec 2006

Gautam, Sujan

Seminar presentation Abstract

This presentation discusses streptomycetes utility in human health and their antibiotic producing capabilities. Streptomyces is a major genus among actinomycetes, which are major group gram-positive mycelial prokaryotes predominantly found in soil. Antibiotic are the major therapeutic drugs for bacterial diseases and, hence, are related directly to the human health. Amino glycosides (e.g., streptomycin, neomycin, or gentamycin) and macrolides (e.g., erythromycin) target bacterial ribosomes while quinolones (e.g.; ciprofloxacin) attack bacterial DNA gyrase (1). Mitomycin has been shown to be an anticancer or antitumor agent that halts the cell in G2 phase, resulting in cell death (2). Unlike other anticancer agents, FK317 does not induce weight loss and is more effective than MC (3,4). FK506; a macrolide, is a potent anti viral agent (5). NP-06, a 21-mer oligopeptide antiviral compound, appears to block early stage of HIV-1 infection (6) while nystatin has antifungal properties (1).

References
1. Pelczar MJ, Chan ECS and Krieg NR, 2004.Antibiotics and Other Chemotherapeutic Agents In: Microbiology, TATA McGraw-HILL publishing Co. Ltd, New Delhi, 5th ed, pp:510-539.

2. Martin TW, Dauter Z, Devedjiev Y, Sheffield P, Jelen F, He M, Sherman DH, Otlewski J and Derewenda U, 2002. Molecular Basis of Mitomycin C Resistance in Streptomyces: Structure and Function of the MRD Protein. Structure 10: 933-942.

3. Naoe Y, Kawamura I, Inami M, Tsujimoto S, Manda T and Shimomura K, 1998. Anti-cachetic Effect of FK317, a Novel Anti-cancer Agent, in Colon26 and LX-1 Models in Mice. Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 89: 1318-1325.

4. Naoe Y, Inami M, Matsumoto S, Takagaki S, Fujiwara T, Yamazaki S, Kawamura I, Nishigaki F, Tsujimoto S, Manda Tand Shimomura K, 1998. FK317, a Novel Subsituted Dihydrobenzoxazine, Exhibits Potent Antitumor Activity against Human Tumor Xenografts in Nude Mice. Jpn. J. Cancer Res. 89: 1306-1317

5. Reis S.A, Moussatche N, and Damaso C.R, 2006. FK506, a secondary metabolite produced by Streptomyces presents a novel antiviral activity against Orthopoxvirus infection in cell culture. J. Applied Micorbiology 100: 1373-1380.

6. Chokelijchai S, Anderson S, Nomizu M, Machida M and Roller P.P, 1995. NP-06: a Novel Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Polypeptide Produced by a Streptomyces Species. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 39:2345-2347.