title: Continuing hunt for endophytic actinomycetes as a source of novel biologically active metabolites.
abstract: Drug-resistant pathogens and persistent agrochemicals mount the detrimental threats against human health and welfare. Exploitation of beneficial microorganisms and their metabolic inventions is most promising way to tackle these two problems. Since the successive discoveries of penicillin and streptomycin in 1940s, numerous biologically active metabolites have been discovered from different microorganisms, especially actinomycetes. In recent years, actinomycetes that inhabit unexplored environments have received significant attention due to their broad diversity and distinctive metabolic potential with medical, agricultural and industrial importance. In this scenario, endophytic actinomycetes that inhabit living tissues of plants are emerging as a potential source of novel bioactive compounds for the discovery of drug leads. Also, endophytic actinomycetes are considered as bio-inoculants to improve crop performance through organic farming practices. Further efforts on exploring the endophytic actinomycetes associated with the plants warrant the likelihood of discovering new taxa and their metabolites with novel chemical structures and biotechnological importance. This mini-review highlights the recent achievements in isolation of endophytic actinomycetes and an assortment of bioactive compounds.
authors.affiliation: School of Life sciences, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Meeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masand
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India. arulmku@gmail.com.|Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai, India. arulmku@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Polpass Arul
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jose
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, School of Science, JECRC University, Jaipur, India.
authors.forename: Ekta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menghani
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.
authors.forename: Solomon Robinson David
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jebakumar
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001709:Biotechnology; D055808:Drug Discovery; D060026:Endophytes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products
keywords: Actinomycetes; Bioactive compounds; Drug discovery; Endophytes