Draft genomes of Nocardia species
Rare actinomycetes belonging to the genus Nocardia are recognized not only as opportunistic pathogens responsible for nocardiosis, especially in immunocompromised individuals, but also as potential producers of novel bioactive secondary metabolites. Despite their pathogenicity, many Nocardia strains possess untapped biosynthetic potential that could contribute to drug discovery. By decoding the genomes of clinical and environmental isolates, this project seeks to clarify taxonomy, identify virulence factors, and uncover novel biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for secondary metabolite production. Special attention is given to strains with antimicrobial activity, contributing to drug discovery efforts. The project combines comparative genomics, genome mining, and functional assays to better understand the ecological roles and pharmaceutical potential of this underexplored genus of actinomycetes.