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

ARNAU VG; DANILOVICH M; ACOSTA F; SANCHEZ LA; DELGADO O D

Biology and Biotechnology of Patagonian Microorganisms.

Springer

Año: 2016; p. 127 - 146

 Antimicrobial compounds are molecules widespread in life forms tomediate competition, and their industrial production could be important for potentialuse as preservatives in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.Pathogen resistance causes high mortality rates in hospitals and important economiclosses in health institutions. Pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcusaureus , penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae , and beta-lactam-resistantPseudomonas aeruginosa are the most common examples. This worldwide problemrequires the discovery of new molecules with antibiotic activity, effective therapeuticsstrategies, and research of promising targets. Most antibiotics come fromscreening programs of natural sources, including the isolation of new microorganisms.Extremophile microorganisms are a valuable source for novel biomoleculeswith unusual properties, including antimicrobial activity. Because of their harshconditions, the Patagonian, sub-Antarctic, and Antarctic environments are idealplaces for bioprospecting. Patagonia is a sparsely populated region located at thesouthern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The overall climateis cool and dry; the east coast is warmer than the west, especially in summer, becausea branch of the Southern Equatorial Current reaches its shores, whereas the westcoast is washed by a cold current. Cold environments could be a suitable source ofmicroorganisms with ability to produce cold-active antimicrobial compounds withpotential use in biotechnology.