Selective isolation and distribution of Actinobispora strains in soil

A simplified enrichment method for selective isolation of Actinobispora strains from soil is described. Actinobispora spores were tolerant to dry-heat treatment at 110 degrees C for 15 min. Actinobispora was more resistant to 1 microgram/mL leucomycin, 1 microgram/mL novobiocin, and 0.5 microgram/mL tunicamycin than Streptomyces dominant in soil, which prevents selective isolation of Actinobispora. Percentages of Actinobispora colonies on the isolation plate were increased by addition of antibiotics and dry-heat treatment of the soil samples. By combining the techniques described above, this genus was isolated from 105 out of 574 soil samples (18% of the samples tested). It was recovered from the soil samples with pH values ranging 5.0 to 8.9, and 78% of strains were isolated from neutral soil (pH 6.0-8.0). A number of Actinobispora strains were isolated from various soils around the world. Actinobispora strains are widely distributed in the world at relatively high frequency.