''Streptomyces avermitilis'' is a species of bacteria in the genus ''
Streptomyces
''Streptomyces'', from στρεπτός (''streptós''), meaning "twisted", and μύκης (''múkés''), meaning "fungus", is the largest genus of Actinomycetota, and the type genus of the family Streptomycetaceae. Over 700 species of ''St ...
''. This bacterium was discovered by
Satoshi Ōmura in
Shizuoka Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,555,818 and has a geographic area of . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Pref ...
,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
The first complete genome sequence of ''S. avermitilis'' was completed in 2003.
The genome consists of a single
chromosome
A chromosome is a package of DNA containing part or all of the genetic material of an organism. In most chromosomes, the very long thin DNA fibers are coated with nucleosome-forming packaging proteins; in eukaryotic cells, the most import ...
with a linear structure, unlike most bacterial genomes, which exist in the form of circular chromosomes.
Avermectin
The avermectins are a group of 16-membered Macrolide, macrocyclic lactone derivatives with potent anthelmintic and Insecticide, insecticidal properties. These naturally occurring compounds are generated as fermentation products by ''Streptomyces a ...
s are industrially derived from the fermentation products of ''S. avermitilis''.
[ One of the most widely employed drugs against nematode and arthropod infestations is the avermectin derivative ]ivermectin
Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug. After its discovery in 1975, its first uses were in veterinary medicine to prevent and treat heartworm and acariasis. Approved for human use in 1987, it is used to treat infestations including head lice ...
, as well as abamectin, a widely used insecticide and antihelmintic
Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that expel parasitic worms (helminths) and other internal parasites from the body by either stunning or killing them without causing significant damage to the host. They may also ...
.
See also
* List of ''Streptomyces'' species
References
External links
*
Type strain of ''Streptomyces avermitilis'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
avermitilis
Bacteria described in 2002
{{Streptomyces-stub