''Streptomyces hygroscopicus'' is a bacterial species in the genus ''
Streptomyces''. It was first described by Hans Laurits Jensen in 1931.
Biochemistry
Cultures of different strains of ''S. hygroscopicus'' can be used to produce several chemical compounds or enzymes.
Small molecules
Immunosuppressants
Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is an
antifungal
An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as ...
and
immunosuppressant that has been isolated from ''S. hygroscopicus'' from soil samples from
Easter Island
Easter Island (, ; , ) is an island and special territory of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian Triangle in Oceania. The island is renowned for its nearly 1,000 extant monumental statues, ...
.
is another immunosuppressant produced by some strains of ''S. hygroscopicus;'' it has a similar structure to sirolimus and can be used to treat autoimmune diseases and skin diseases and can help prevent rejection after an organ transplant.
Antibiotics
The antibiotics
geldanamycin
Geldanamycin is a 1,4-benzoquinone ansamycin Antitumor agent, antitumor antibiotic that inhibits the function of Hsp90 (Heat Shock Protein 90) by binding to the unusual ADP/ATP-binding pocket of the protein. HSP90 client proteins play important rol ...
,
hygromycin B,
nigericin,
validamycin, and
cyclothiazomycin are found in ''S. hygroscopicus''.
Experimental cancer drugs
Indolocarbazoles can be found in ''S. hygroscopicus'' .
Anthelmintics and insecticides
Milbemycin and
milbemycin oxime can be found in ''S. hygroscopicus'' cultures.
Herbicide
''S. hygroscopicus'' also produces the natural
herbicide
Herbicides (, ), also commonly known as weed killers, are substances used to control undesired plants, also known as weeds.EPA. February 201Pesticides Industry. Sales and Usage 2006 and 2007: Market Estimates. Summary in press releasMain page f ...
bialaphos.
Enzymes
The enzymes
alpha,alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase (GDP-forming),
carboxyvinyl-carboxyphosphonate phosphorylmutase, and
hygromycin-B kinase can be isolated from cultures of ''S. hygroscopicus''.
References
External links
Type strain of ''Streptomyces hygroscopicus'' at Bac''Dive'' - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase
hygroscopicus
Bacteria described in 1931
{{Streptomyces-stub