New Streptomyces-Derived Antibacterial Compounds Targeting Gram-Positive Bacteria: A Systematic Review

Bacterial infections, particularly those caused by Gram-positive bacteria like vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are a growing concern. This review highlights the potential of the Streptomyces genus in producing novel antibacterial compounds against Gram-positive bacteria. The study was carried out following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). To gather relevant literature on novel anti-Gram-positive bacteria compounds produced by Streptomyces, a web search was conducted using several databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, covering the period from January 2013 to mid-2024. The search terms employed in this study included "Streptomyces," "antimicrobial/antibacterial activity," "compounds," and "Gram-positive bacteria." Consequently, a total of 248 Streptomyces-derived compounds were featured across the 96 eligible studies. These compounds include 100 polyketides (58 aromatic polyketides, 30 macrolides, and 12 other polyketides), 72 peptides (67 nonribosomal peptides [52 typical cyclic peptides and 15 lipopeptides] and 5 ribosomal peptides), 23 terpenoids, five polyketides-terpenoids, six alkaloids, 12 phenazines, 11 nucleoside antibiotics, and 19 other compounds belonging to distinct chemical classes. The results emphasize that Streptomyces is an unlimited source of naturally occurring compounds with various structural variations that can occasionally have targeted action against a range of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria.