Preface

Best regards,

**Diana R. Cundell,**  Professor of Biology,

USA

Division of Health Professions,

Philadelphia University,

College of Science, Health and the Liberal Arts,

Actinobacteria hold a prominent position as targets in screening programs due to their di‐ versity and their proven ability to produce novel metabolites. They are universally re‐ nowned as secondary metabolite producers and hence are of high pharmacological and commercial interest. Approximately, 23,000 microbial secondary metabolites with tremen‐ dous economic importance have been identified so far, in which 12,000 compounds are pro‐ duced by Actinobacteria. Interestingly, 7600 bioactive compounds are reported from the members of the genus Streptomyces with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoan, antihelminthic, antialgal, antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and

Pre-Medical Studies Program Director and Clinical Coordinator,

• Secrete oxidative enzymes able to be used in bioremediation and removal of waste

• Improve soil fertility, through enhancing plant growth; Actinobacteria, for example, are able to assist the colonization of plant species in inhospitable soils through the

• Act as "biocatalysts" to improve and accelerate industrially important processes • Degrade toxic hydrocarbons in heavily contaminated soils; a unique property of

• Generate enzymes able to manufacture biofuels and degrade household waste • Synthesize nanoparticles, which have widespread health applications including im proved targeting of radiation therapy and non-toxic delivery vehicles for various

As a whole "Actinobacteria - Basics and Biotechnological Applications" provides an excellent overview of a group of microbes able to survive in all areas of our planet. A useful reference work for student and researcher alike, this book will provide its reader with the information needed to either begin research in the field or continue in a new direction. Crammed with useful tips and techniques, not always available in classic research articles, it is a "go to" for anyone in this area.

products including heavy metals and pesticides

stimulation of local fungal species (mycorrhizae)

Frankia species

pharmaceuticals.

VIII Foreword

The Actinomycetes or Actinobacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria with high gua‐ nine and cytosine content in their DNA. They are morphologically diverse, ranging from coccoid, fragmenting hyphal forms to those with a highly differentiated branched myceli‐ um. Many of these bacteria produce external spores and are widely distributed in terrestrial ( *Streptomyces* spp.) and aquatic (freshwater – *Micromonospora* sp. and *Nocardia* sp. and ma‐ rine – *Micropolyspora* sp.) ecosystems, where they play a crucial role in decomposition of or‐ ganic materials, thereby contributing in organic matter turnover and carbon cycle. This replenishes the supply of nutrients in the soil and is an important part of the humus forma‐ tion. Actinobacteria also inhabit a vast array of plants (commensals – *Leifsonia* sp.; nitrogenfixing symbionts – *Frankia* sp.) and animals (gastrointestinal tract resident – *Rhodococcus* sp. and *Bifidobacterium* sp.). Furthermore, several pathogenic species ( *Mycobacterium* sp., *Nocar‐ dia* sp., *Tropheryma* sp., *Corynebacterium* sp., and *Propionibacterium* sp.) are often encountered among the phylum of Actinobacteria.

Actinobacteria hold a prominent position as targets in screening programs due to their di‐ versity and their proven ability to produce novel metabolites. They are universally re‐ nowned as secondary metabolite producers and hence are of high pharmacological and commercial interest. Approximately, 23,000 microbial secondary metabolites with tremen‐ dous economic importance have been identified so far, in which 12,000 compounds are pro‐ duced by Actinobacteria. Interestingly, 7600 bioactive compounds are reported from the members of the genus Streptomyces with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoan, antihelminthic, antialgal, antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and neuritogenic activities. In addition, they also employed as insecticides, herbicides, and fun‐ gicides and as growth promotants for certain plants and food animals (probiotics). Further‐ more, the ability of Actinobacteria in biodegradation of agricultural wastes and their extensive distribution in soil, compost, water, and elsewhere in the environment make them very important to the agricultural industries.

This book presents an introductory overview of Actinobacteria with three main divisions: taxonomic principles, bioprospecting, and agriculture and industrial utility, which covers isolation, cultivation methods, and identification of Actinobacteria and production and bio‐ technological potential of antibacterial compounds and enzymes from Actinobacteria. More‐ over, this book also provides a comprehensive account on plant growth-promoting (PGP) and pollutant degrading ability of Actinobacteria and the exploitation of Actinobacteria as ecofriendly nanofactories for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, such as gold and silver. This book will be beneficial for the graduate students, teachers, researchers, biotechnologists, and other professionals, who are interested to fortify and expand their knowledge about Actino‐ bacteria in the field of Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Plant Science, Agri‐ culture, Plant pathology, Environmental Science, etc.

The book comprises a total of 16 chapters from multiple contributors around the world, in‐ cluding Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, India, China, Mexico, and the United States. We are grateful to all the contributors and leading experts for the submission of their stimulating and inclusive chapters in the preparation of the edited volume to bring the book on Actinobacteria basics and biotechnological applications. We offer our special thanks and appreciation to Ms. Ana Pantar and Ms. Sandra Bakic, Publishing Process Manager, for their encouragement and help in bringing out the book in the present form.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Cheng-Lin Jiang, Key Laboratory for Microbial Resources of Ministry of Education, Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650091, P.R. China, for his valuable conceptual suggestions and proof comments during the review process of this book. Appreciations are due to my research scholars, Ms. S. Latha, Ms A. Ranjani, and Ms. G. Vinothini, for their sincere efforts and dili‐ gence toward this book. We are also indebted to InTech-Open Science, Bharathidasan Uni‐ versity, and Yunnan University for their concern, efforts, and support in the task of publishing this volume.

Actinobacteria hold a prominent position as targets in screening programs due to their di‐ versity and their proven ability to produce novel metabolites. They are universally re‐ nowned as secondary metabolite producers and hence are of high pharmacological and commercial interest. Approximately, 23,000 microbial secondary metabolites with tremen‐ dous economic importance have been identified so far, in which 12,000 compounds are pro‐ duced by Actinobacteria. Interestingly, 7600 bioactive compounds are reported from the members of the genus Streptomyces with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoan, antihelminthic, antialgal, antimalarial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and

#### **Dr. Dharumadurai Dhanasekaran**

Department of Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, India

**Dr. Yi Jiang** Yunnan Institute of Microbiology, School of Life Science, Yunnan University, P. R. China
