Novel Sources of Antimicrobials from Pristine and Poorly Explored Environments. The Patagonia Microbiota Case

ARNAU,GONZALO; DANILOVICH, MARIANA; SANCHEZ, LEANDRO; ACOSTA, FEDERICO; DELGADO, OSVALDO

Biology and Biotechnology of Patagonian Microorganisms

SPRINGER

Lugar: Gewerbestrasse; Año: 2016; p. 127 - 146

Abstract Antimicrobial compounds are molecules widespread in life forms to mediate competition, and their industrial production could be important for the potential use as preservatives in food, cosmetical and pharmaceutical industries. Pathogen resistance causes high mortality rates in hospitals and important economics losses in health institutions. Pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and beta-lactam resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common examples. This worldwide problem requires the discovery of new molecules with antibiotic activity, effective therapeutics strategies, and research of promising targets. Most antibiotics came up from screening programs of natural sources, including the isolation of new microorganisms. Extremophile microorganisms are valuable source for novels biomolecules with unusual properties, including antimicrobial activity. Due to the harsh conditions, Patagonian, sub-Antarctic and Antarctic environments are ideal places for bioprospecting. Patagonia is a sparsely populated region located at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. Overall climate is cool and dry; the east coast is warmer than the west, especially in summer, due to a branch of the southern equatorial current that reaches its shores, whereas the west coast is washed by a cold current. Cold environments could be a suitable source of microorganisms with ability to produce cold-active antimicrobials compounds with potential use in biotechnology.