Actinomycetes from Red Sea sponges: sources for chemical and phylogenetic diversity.
The diversity of actinomycetes associated with marine sponges collected off Fsar Reef (Saudi Arabia) was investigated in the present study. Forty-seven actinomycetes were cultivated and phylogenetically identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and were assigned to 10 different actinomycete genera. Eight putatively novel species belonging to genera Kocuria, Mycobacterium, Nocardia, and Rhodococcus were identified based on sequence similarity values below 98.2% to other 16S rRNA gene sequences available in the NCBI database. PCR-based screening for biosynthetic genes including type I and type II polyketide synthases (PKS-I, PKS-II) as well as nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) showed that 20 actinomycete isolates encoded each at least one type of biosynthetic gene. The organic extracts of nine isolates displayed bioactivity against at least one of the test pathogens, which were Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, human parasites, as well as in a West Nile Virus protease enzymatic assay. These results emphasize that marine sponges are a prolific resource for novel bioactive actinomycetes with potential for drug discovery.
Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, Würzburg D-97082, Germany. usama.ramadan@uni-wuerzburg.de.
Usama Ramadan
UR
Abdelmohsen
Division of Chemical & Life Sciences and Engineering and Division of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. chen.yang@kaust.edu.sa.
Chen
C
Yang
Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, Würzburg D-97082, Germany. hannes.horn@uni-wuerzburg.de.
Hannes
H
Horn
Division of Chemical & Life Sciences and Engineering and Division of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. dina.hajjar@kaust.edu.sa.
Dina
D
Hajjar
Division of Chemical & Life Sciences and Engineering and Division of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia. timothy.ravasi@kaust.edu.sa.
Timothy
T
Ravasi
Department of Botany II, Julius-von-Sachs Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Würzburg, Julius-von-Sachs-Platz 3, Würzburg D-97082, Germany. ute.hentschel@uni-wuerzburg.de.
Ute
U
Hentschel
D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D044822:Biodiversity; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D019156:Indian Ocean; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000382:microbiology*; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents