Streptomyces: Sources of Novel Discoveries in Antibiotic Research to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

Authors: Singh N , Das D , Sherwani N and Sinha A

DOI: 10.23880/vij-16000356

Volume 9, Issue 1

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious challenges to global public health this century. The first World Health Organization (WHO) Global report on AMR surveillance, published in April 2014, collected data for the first time from national and international surveillance networks, demonstrating the extent of this phenomenon in many parts of the world as well as the presence of significant gaps in existing surveillance. Given the rising reporting of multi-resistant bacteria and the shortage of newly licensed treatments, researchers have started looking into severe and uncommon conditions as a new supply of antibiotics. Streptomyces, a genus of gram-positive, filamentous bacteria, represents a cornerstone of natural product discovery in antibiotic research. Streptomyces species are well-known for their ability to create a wide range of bioactive secondary metabolites, including more than two-thirds of therapeutically useful antibiotics. This paper explores the biological and genomic characteristics of Streptomyces, their role in natural product biosynthesis, and recent advancements in leveraging these organisms for novel antibiotic discovery. We also discuss the challenges in addressing antibiotic resistance and strategies for maximizing the potential of Streptomyces through modern biotechnology. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most serious public health issues of the twenty-first century, threatening the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi that are no longer susceptible to the common antibiotics used to combat them.

Keywords: Streptomyces; Novel Antimicrobials; Antimicrobial Resistance; Antibiotic Discoveries; Novel Drugs; AMR

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