Actinokineospora sp. UV203 Genome sequencing
Antimicrobial resistance continues to drive the search for novel natural products with unique mechanisms of action. Extreme environments such as Antarctica harbor rare and highly adapted microorganisms that represent promising but underexplored sources of bioactive metabolites. This project focuses on a soil-derived actinomycete from the rare genus Actinokineospora, isolated from James Ross Island (Antarctica) and representing a putative novel species. Genomic analysis and cultivation studies revealed biosynthetic gene clusters consistent with the production of previously uncharacterized specialised metabolites, including a new class of metallophores. Guided by this, we identified a new family of metallophores, kineochelins, with antifungal activity against yeasts. By integrating genomics, targeted isolation, and structural elucidation, this work highlights Antarctic actinomycetes as a valuable resource for discovering metabolite classes with potential relevance to antimicrobial drug development. Sequencing was performed at the Joint Microbiome Facility of the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Vienna under the project ID JMF-2209-13 and JMF-2412-11.