BIOPROSPECTING FOR BIOACTIVE ACTINOMYCETES FROM PATAGONIA

M. S. VELA GUROVIC

BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY OF PATAGONIAN MICROORGANISMS

SPRINGER

Año: 2016; p. 147 - 154

Actinomycetes have been and still are the most promising bacterial source of antibiotic and antifungal substances. It is known that the genetic potential of these microorganisms has been underexplored. Bioprospecting based on the exploration of new environments, such as deep sea and marine invertebrates, led to the discovery of new and unique bioactive metabolites. Patagonia offers a vast diversity of such potential environments and sources of bioactive strains. The latest most successful approaches in bioprospecting for bioactive actinomycetes are reviewed in this chapter, together with a revision of the available reports on bioprospecting for actinomycetes from Patagonia.