The potential of Actinobacteria in Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: A Review of Biotechnological Applications

Antimicrobial resistance remains one of the most critical challenges to global public health, intensifying the search for novel bioactive compounds capable of combating multidrug-resistant microorganisms. In this context, actinobacteria have gained attention due to their remarkable biosynthetic capacity, producing a wide array of secondary metabolites with significant pharmaceutical and biotechnological potential. It is estimated that approximately 70% of clinically used antibiotics originate from these microorganisms. Among them, the genus Streptomyces stands out for its exceptional ability to synthesize diverse bioactive molecules, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, immunosuppressive, and antitumor agents.

This review aims to analyze the current literature on the antimicrobial potential of actinobacteria.

Searches were carried out in the National Library of Medicine (PubMed MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and ScienceDirect databases, covering publications from 2015 to 2024 in English and Portuguese. The descriptors used included "actinobacteria," "antimicrobial properties," "secondary metabolites," and "bioprospecting," along with their Portuguese equivalents. After screening and the removal of duplicates and unrelated studies, 102 articles were selected for detailed analysis.

Actinobacteria, especially those isolated from marine and extreme environments, are prolific producers of compounds with novel structures and mechanisms of action. Several studies reported the discovery of antibiotics effective against resistant bacteria, antifungal agents targeting pathogenic fungi, and immunosuppressive compounds with therapeutic relevance. In addition to medical applications, actinobacteria also show potential in sustainable industrial processes through enzyme and biocatalyst production.

The prolific biosynthetic capacity of actinobacteria remains a contemporary imperative against multidrug resistance. Their metabolic diversity continues to yield compounds with novel mechanisms. However, persistently high rediscovery rates reveal that traditional bioprospecting has reached diminishing returns. Unlocking the true therapeutic potential of these microorganisms now depends fundamentally on integrating advanced genomic tools, metabolic engineering, and innovative cultivation strategies. These approaches are essential to access silent biosynthetic gene clusters and delivering the next generation of novel bioactive compounds.

These findings reinforce the importance of actinobacteria as strategic microbial resources for the discovery of new drugs and innovative biotechnological solutions to current global challenges.