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The bacterial phylum Planctomycetes as novel source for bioactive small molecules
Nicolai Kallscheuer1, Christian Jogler2
1Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany; Department of Microbial Interactions, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
Biotechnology Advances
|September 19, 2021
Summary
Exploring the Planctomycetes phylum reveals a rich source of novel antibiotics and biomedical compounds. Further research into this diverse bacterial group is crucial for future natural product discovery.
Area of Science:
- Bacterial cell biology
- Microbial biotechnology
- Natural product discovery
Background:
- Bacterial cell biology expertise has grown, integrating bacteria into biotechnological processes.
- Focusing on model bacteria for biotechnology overlooks the vast untapped bacterial diversity crucial for bioprospecting.
- The Planctomycetes phylum, an evolutionarily deep-branching group, is gaining attention for producing small molecules with biomedical activities, including novel antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current state of Planctomycetes research, focusing on their diversity, small molecule production, and potential applications.
- To highlight the importance of exploring understudied bacterial phyla for natural product discovery.
- To emphasize the need to commence research on additional promising bacterial phyla for novel small molecule sources.
Main Methods:
- Initiated a large-scale sampling campaign over ten years ago to isolate Planctomycetes from diverse natural habitats.
- Developed specific protocols to overcome cultivation challenges for representative Planctomycetes species.
- Characterized approximately 90 novel strains, enabling in silico analysis of their genetic coding potential.
Main Results:
- Characterization of ~90 novel Planctomycetes strains provided insights into their genetic makeup and potential for producing bioactive compounds.
- Planctomycetes are emerging as a significant natural source for novel antibiotics and other small molecules with biomedical relevance.
- Next-generation sequencing and metagenomics complement classical isolation, offering access to genomes of uncultivated bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Planctomycetes represent a promising, yet underexplored, phylum for discovering novel small molecules with biomedical applications.
- Continued exploration of bacterial diversity, particularly understudied phyla like Planctomycetes, is essential for future bioprospecting.
- The 10-year timeframe for current progress underscores the urgency to begin investigating other promising bacterial phyla today.
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