Actinobacteria
General
Actinobacteria are non-motile, gram-positive bacteria characterised by high guanine-plus-cytosine (G+C) DNA content (1). The majority of Actinobacteria are found in aquatic and terrestrial environments and are particularly abundant in soil, where they perform many vital roles in the decomposition of organic matter, plant growth, and enrichment of the soil ecosystem (1). Soil Actinobacteria are mesophilic, growing optimally at temperatures of 25-30°C, and prefer a neutral pH. Many saprophytic Actinobacteria also produce bioactive secondary metabolites which are the source of two-thirds of naturally derived antibiotics and numerous anticancer, antianthelmintic and antifungal compounds (1). Bacteria belonging to this phylum are therefore of considerable biotechnological, medical and agricultural importance.
Taxonomy
Ecology
Morphology and Lifecycle
Actinobacteria genetics
Antimicrobial production
References
1. Barka, E. A., Vatsa, P., Sanchez, L., Gaveau-Vaillant, N., Jacquard, C., Klenk, H.-P., … van Wezel, G. P. (2016). Taxonomy, Physiology, and Natural Products of Actinobacteria. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews. https://doi.org/10.1128/mmbr.00019-15