Isolation and structure determination of a new thiopeptide globimycin from Streptomyces globisporus subsp. globisporus based on genome mining

Bioactive Metabolites from Terrestrial and Marine Actinomycetes

Actinomycetes inhabit both terrestrial and marine ecosystems and are highly proficient in producing a wide range of natural products with diverse biological functions, including antitumor, immunosuppressive, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities. In this review, we delve into the life cycle, ecology, taxonomy, and classification of actinomycetes, as well as their varied bioactive metabolites recently discovered between 2015 and 2023. Additionally, we explore promising strategies to unveil and investigate new bioactive metabolites, encompassing genome mining, activation of silent genes through signal molecules, and co-cultivation approaches. By presenting this comprehensive and up-to-date review, we hope to offer a potential solution to uncover novel bioactive compounds with essential activities.

HypoRiPPAtlas as an Atlas of hypothetical natural products for mass spectrometry database search

Recent analyses of public microbial genomes have found over a million biosynthetic gene clusters, the natural products of the majority of which remain unknown. Additionally, GNPS harbors billions of mass spectra of natural products without known structures and biosynthetic genes. We bridge the gap between large-scale genome mining and mass spectral datasets for natural product discovery by developing HypoRiPPAtlas, an Atlas of hypothetical natural product structures, which is ready-to-use for in silico database search of tandem mass spectra. HypoRiPPAtlas is constructed by mining genomes using seq2ripp, a machine-learning tool for the prediction of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). In HypoRiPPAtlas, we identify RiPPs in microbes and plants. HypoRiPPAtlas could be extended to other natural product classes in the future by implementing corresponding biosynthetic logic. This study paves the way for large-scale explorations of biosynthetic pathways and chemical structures of microbial and plant RiPP classes.

Nocardiopsis suaedae sp. nov. and Nocardiopsis endophytica sp. nov., two novel halophilic actinobacteria isolated from halophytes

A polyphasic approach was used to describe two halophilic actinobacterial strains, designated LSu2-4^T and RSe5-2^T, which were isolated from halophytes [Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum. and Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.] collected from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains LSu2-4^T and RSe5-2^T were assigned to the genus Nocardiopsis, with Nocardiopsis chromatogenes YIM 90109^T(99.2 and 99.2 % similarities, respectively) and Nocardiopsis halophila DSM 44494^T(99.0 and 98.8 % similarities, respectively) being their closely related strains. Whereas the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between LSu2-4^T and RSe5-2^T was 99.4 %. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that both strains clustered with N. chromatogenes YIM 90109^T and N. halophila DSM 44494^T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) based on blast, ANI based on MUMmer and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) relatedness values between the two strains and their closest type strains were below the threshold values for identifying a novel species. Morphological characteristics and chemotaxonomic features of both strains were typical for the genus Nocardiopsis by formed well-developed substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia which fragmented into rod-shaped spores. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinones were variously hydrogenated with 10 isoprene units and contained phosphatidylcholine in their polar lipid profiles. Major fatty acids were iso-C_16:0 and 10-methyl C_18:0. In silico analysis predicted that the genomes of LSu2-4^T and RSe5-2^T contained genes associated with stress responses and biosynthetic gene clusters encoding diverse bioactive metabolites. Characterization based on chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence demonstrated that strains LSu2-4^T and RSe5-2^T represents two novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the names Nocardiopsis suaedae sp. nov. (type strain LSu2-4^T=TBRC 16415^T=NBRC 115855^T) and Nocardiopsis endophytica sp. nov. (type strain RSe5-2^T=TBRC 16416^T=NBRC 115856^T) are proposed.

Streptomonospora litoralis sp. nov., a halophilic thiopeptides producer isolated from sand collected at Cuxhaven beach

Strain M2^T was isolated from the beach of Cuxhaven, Wadden Sea, Germany, in course of a program to attain new producers of bioactive natural products. Strain M2^T produces litoralimycin and sulfomycin-type thiopeptides. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a potential biosynthetic gene cluster encoding for the M2^T thiopeptides. The strain is Gram-stain-positive, rod shaped, non-motile, spore forming, showing a yellow colony color and forms extensively branched substrate mycelium and aerial hyphae. Inferred from the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny strain M2^T affiliates with the genus Streptomonospora. It shows 96.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type species Streptomonospora salina DSM 44593 ^T and forms a distinct branch with Streptomonospora sediminis DSM 45723 ^T with 97.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that M2^T is closely related to Streptomonospora alba YIM 90003 ^T with a digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) value of 26.6%. The predominant menaquinones of M2^T are MK-10(H₆), MK-10(H₈), and MK-11(H₆) (> 10%). Major cellular fatty acids are iso-C_16:0, anteiso C_17:0 and C_18:0 10-methyl. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, three glycolipids, two unknown phospholipids, and two unknown lipids. The genome size of type strain M2^T is 5,878,427 bp with 72.1 mol % G + C content. Based on the results obtained from phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic studies, strain M2^T (= DSM 106425 ^T = NCCB 100650 ^T) is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Streptomonospora for which the name Streptomonospora litoralis sp. nov. is proposed.

Actinobacteria in natural products research: Progress and prospects

Actinobacteria are well-recognised biosynthetic factories that produce an extensive spectrum of secondary metabolites. Recent genomic insights seem to impact the exploitation of these metabolically versatile bacteria in several aspects. Notably, from the isolation of novel taxa to the discovery of new compounds, different approaches evolve at a steady pace. Here, we systematically discuss the enduring importance of Actinobacteria in the field of drug discovery, the current focus of isolation efforts targeting bioactive Actinobacteria from diverse sources, recent discoveries of novel compounds with different bioactivities, and the relative employment of different strategies in the search for novel compounds. Ultimately, we highlight notable progress that will have profound impacts on future quests for secondary metabolites of Actinobacteria.

Anti-MRSA Activity of Actinomycin X2 and Collismycin A Produced by Streptomyces globisporus WA5-2-37 From the Intestinal Tract of American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as one of the serious pathogen that causes acquired infections worldwide. Its emerging need to discover novel, safe and potent anti-MRSA drugs. In this study, primary screening by anti-MRSA activity assay found one strain WA5-2-37 isolated from the intestinal tract of Periplaneta americana, exhibited great activity against MRSA ATCC 43300. The strain WA5-2-37 produced actinomycin X₂ and collismycin A which showed strong inhibition of MRSA with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.25 and 8 μg/mL. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated by analysis of mass spectrometry (MS), ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The strain WA5-2-37 was considered as Streptomyces globisporus on the basis of morphological characteristics, genotypic data, and phylogenetic analysis. This is the first reported naturally occurring strain of S. globisporus isolated from the intestinal tract of P. americana, whereas it has almost been found from plants, marine, and soil previously. Moreover, S. globisporus has not been reported to produce any anti-MRSA substances previously, such as actinomycin X₂ and collismycin A. In conclusion, the insect-derived strain of S. globisporus WA5-2-37 was considered of great potential as a new strain of producing actinomycin X₂, collismycin A or other anti-MRSA compounds.

Heteroaryl Rings in Peptide Macrocycles

This Review is devoted to the chemistry of macrocyclic peptides having heterocyclic fragments in their structure. These motifs are present in many natural products and synthetic macrocycles designed against a particular biochemical target. Thiazole and oxazole are particularly common constituents of naturally occurring macrocyclic peptide molecules. This frequency of occurrence is because the thiazole and oxazole rings originate from cysteine, serine, and threonine residues. Whereas other heteroaryl groups are found less frequently, they offer many insightful lessons that range from conformational control to receptor/ligand interactions. Many options to develop new and improved technologies to prepare natural products have appeared in recent years, and the synthetic community has been pursuing synthetic macrocycles that have no precedent in nature. This Review attempts to summarize progress in this area.

Actinobacteria-Derived peptide antibiotics since 2000

Members of the Actinobacteria, including Streptomyces spp., Kutzneria sp. Actinoplanes spp., Actinomycete sp., Nocardia sp., Brevibacteriumsp.,Actinomadura spp., Micromonospora sp., Amycolatopsis spp., Nonomuraea spp., Nocardiopsis spp., Marinactinospora sp., Rhodococcus sp., Lentzea sp., Actinokineospora sp., Planomonospora sp., Streptomonospora sp., and Microbacterium sp., are an important source of structurally diverse classes of short peptides of ∼30 residues or fewer that will likely play an important role in new antibiotic development and discovery. Additionally, many have unique structures that make them recalcitrant to traditional modes of drug resistance via novel mechanisms, and these are ideal therapeutic tools and potential alternatives to current antibiotics. The need for novel antibiotic is urgent, and this review summarizes 199 Actinobacteria compounds published since 2000, including 35 cyclic lipopeptides containing piperazic or pipecolic acids, eight aromatic peptides, five glycopeptides, 21 bicyclic peptides, 44 other cyclic lipopeptides, five linear lipopeptides, six 2,5-diketopiperazines, one dimeric peptide, four nucleosidyl peptides, two thioamide-containing peptides, 25 thiopeptides, nine lasso peptides, and 34 typical cyclic peptides. The current and potential therapeutic applications of these peptides, including their structure, antituberculotic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-brugia, anti-plasmodial, and anti-trypanosomal activities, are discussed.