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Streptomyces Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Streptomyces facts for kids
| Streptomyces | |
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| Slide culture of a Streptomyces species | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Actinobacteria |
| Class: | Actinobacteria |
| Order: | Actinomycetales |
| Genus: | Streptomyces Waksman & Henrici 1943 |
Streptomyces is the largest genus of Actinobacteria. Over 500 species of Streptomyces bacteria have been described. They are bacteria, but their manner of growth makes them look like fungi. They form long thin threads or hyphae. However, they are not related to fungi
As with other Actinobacteria, streptomycetes are gram-positive, and have genomes with high GC content. Mostly the bacteria lives in soil and decaying vegetation, and produces spores as its method of reproduction.
Streptomycetes produce over two-thirds of the clinically useful antibiotics of natural origin (e.g., tetracycline, neomycin and chloramphenicol). The now uncommonly used streptomycin takes its name directly from Streptomyces.
Streptomyces is the largest antibiotic-producing genus, making antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic drugs. They also make a wide range of other bioactive compounds, such as immunosuppressants.
Almost all of the bioactive compounds produced by Streptomyces are made while the hyphae are forming from the substrate mycelium.