Streptomyces antimicrobicus sp. nov., a novel clay soil-derived actinobacterium producing antimicrobials against drug-resistant bacteria

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain SMC 277(T), was isolated from the clay soil in paddy field of Chonburi Province, Thailand, and characterized using polyphasic taxonomy. Strain SMC 277(T) formed straight chains of nonmotile cylindrical spores with smooth surface developed on aerial mycelia. The typical chemotaxonomic properties of members of the genus Streptomyces were observed in strain SMC 277(T), e.g., cell wall peptidoglycan, whole cell sugars, major menaquinones, cellular fatty acids, and polar lipids. Chemotaxonomic data combined with mycelium and spore morphologies supported the assignment of strain SMC 277(T) to the genus Streptomyces. The results of comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed that strain SMC 277(T) represented a member of the genus Streptomyces. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SMC 277(T) shared the highest sequence similarity with Streptomyces bambusae NBRC 110903(T) (98.8%). Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 6.55 Mbp and a digital G+C content of 73.4 mol%. In addition to the differences in phenotypic characteristics (morphology and physiology), values of ANI (ANIb and ANIm), AAI and dDDH between strain SMC 277(T) and its closest relative S. bambusae NBRC 110903(T) were 81.84, 86.77, 76.91 and 26.1%, respectively. Genome annotation and secondary metabolite gene cluster analysis predicted that SMC 277(T) contained 35 biosynthetic gene clusters encoding diverse bioactive secondary metabolites. It is in agreement with observed antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria associated with nosocomial infections (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum & beta;-lactamase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii). On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain SMC 277(T) can be characterized to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces antimicrobicus is proposed. The type strain is SMC 277(T) (= TBRC 15568(T) = NBRC 115422(T)).

Automated summary

In this study, a novel actinobacterium called strain SMC 277(T) was isolated from clay soil in a paddy field in Thailand. The strain was characterized using various taxonomic methods and was identified as a member of the genus Streptomyces. Genome sequencing revealed the presence of 35 biosynthetic gene clusters encoding diverse bioactive secondary metabolites, and the strain showed antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. Based on these findings, the strain was proposed as a new species called Streptomyces antimicrobicus.