Abstract
Coal and sillimanite mining sites present unique ecological niches favoring the growth of actinobacteria, a group of Gram-positive bacteria known for producing a wide array of bioactive compounds. Isolating these bacteria from such environments could unveil novel compounds with potential biotechnological applications. This study involved the isolation of actinobacteria from two mining sites in Meghalaya, India. The dominant genera from both sites were Streptomyces, Amycolatopsis, Nocardia, and Streptosporangium. Metabolic pathway prediction from 16S rRNA gene revealed several pathways beneficial for plant growth. Exploration of biosynthetic genes indicated a prevalence of the type-II polyketide synthase gene. Sequencing the ketosynthase-alpha domain of the gene led to predictions of various bioactive secondary metabolites. Around 44% of the isolates demonstrated antimicrobial properties, with some also displaying plant growth-promoting traits. Amycolatopsis SD-15 exhibited promising results in planta when tested on tomato plants. These findings highlight the potential of actinobacteria from Meghalaya's mining sites across medical, agricultural, and industrial domains.
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The authors would like to thank the Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, and St. Edmund’s College, Shillong, for the necessary space and resources for carrying out the research work. The authors would like to express their deepest gratitude to (L) Prof. Dhruva Kumar Jha for his invaluable guidance and exceptional supervision throughout the course of this research work which has led to its successful completion and publication. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Garima Raj, IASST, Guwahati, for helping with the analysis of 16S rRNA sequence data using the PAPRICA pipeline.
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Syiemiong, D., Rabha, J. Unveiling nature's treasures: actinobacteria from Meghalaya's mining sites as sources of bioactive compounds. Arch Microbiol 206, 64 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-023-03791-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-023-03791-7