What are the best microbes for producing antibiotics?

The bacterial genera Bacillus and Streptomyces along with the fungal genera Penicilium and Cephalosporium are commonly found in soil. The genus Streptomyces are the most prolific antibiotic producers and, although bacteria, are a unique subgroup of bacteria called the Actinomycetes.

How are microbes used in the production of antibiotics?

While the use of micro-organisms as synthetic factories is growing, there are no bacteria or fungi currently used to produce antibiotics. Part of the issue is that the pathways to antibiotic production are highly complex and difficult to engineer in a way that will give a high product yield that can also be tolerated by the microbe producing it.

What are the different types of germs and antibiotics?

This leaflet gives a brief overview of the different types of germs (microbes) that can cause infections and a very brief overview of the use of antibiotic medication. What are microbes?

What kind of microbes produce tetracycline and daptomycin?

Tetracycline, Streptomycin, Daptomycin. The discovery that a fungus could naturally produce a bug-killing substance led to the idea that other microbes might do the same. Actinomycetes (also known as Actinobacteria) is a model organism of antibiotic production.

What kind of infections can be caused by microbes?

Antibiotics will only clear infections caused by germs such as bacteria and some parasites. They do not work when an infection is caused by viruses, fungi or yeasts. As mentioned, most common infections are caused by viruses when an antibiotic will not be of use.

What is the type of organism that makes antibiotics?

Antibiotics are chemicals that kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria and are used to treat bacterial infections. They are produced in nature by soil bacteria and fungi.

Can a infection caused by bacteria be treated with antibiotics?

Threadworms, hookworms and tapeworms are also parasites. Antibiotics are not a ‘cure all’ for infections. Antibiotics will only clear infections caused by germs such as bacteria and some parasites. They do not work when an infection is caused by viruses, fungi or yeasts.

Why did the discovery of antibiotics come from bacteria?

Because of this, they have become vital to humans for combatting bacterial infection and are used to treat everything from bacterial gastroenteritis to bubonic plague. During the “Golden Age” of antibiotic discovery, 70-80% of all discovered antibiotics came from a single genus of bacteria; Streptomyces.

Antibiotics will only clear infections caused by germs such as bacteria and some parasites. They do not work when an infection is caused by viruses, fungi or yeasts. As mentioned, most common infections are caused by viruses when an antibiotic will not be of use.