Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Actinobacteria comprise a large genus of gram-positive, predominantly saprophytic microbes which inhabit diverse ecosystems. To survive, they have evolved the capability of producing a variety of antibacterial substances, some 10,000 of which have already been discovered with at least 150 reaching pharmaceutical distribution. Actinomycetes are ubiquitous in all natural environments and given that those in unique locations remain to be evaluated, this group of organisms has virtually untapped potential for the generation of antimicrobial agents. The chapter opens with an overview of the distribution and role of environmental Actinomycete species and goes on to discuss the antibacterial products already isolated which have been used commercially. Focus in this latter context will be made on the genus Streptomyces as well as the “rare Actinobacteria.” The chapter concludes with a discussion of possible locations from which novel antibacterial-secreting Actinobacteria species will continue to be isolated including tropical, desert, arid and arctic locales.