Contents

#### **Preface XI**


Preface

were also produced from Actinobacteria.

leaders in their respective fields.

accomplished.

Actinobacteria constitute one of the largest phyla. They are a group of Gram-positive aero‐ bic bacteria that are distributed in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Members of Actino‐ bacteria have adopted different lifestyles, and can be pathogens such as *Mycobacterium*, *Corynebacterium*, *Nocardia*, *Tropheryma*, and *Propionibacterium*, soil inhabitants such as *Strepto‐ myces*, plant commensals such as *Leifsonia*, or gastrointestinal commensals such as *Bifidobac‐ terium*. They have an extensive bioactive secondary metabolism and produce a huge amount of the naturally derived antibiotics in current clinical use, as well as many anticancer, anthel‐ mintic, and antifungal compounds. Consequently, these bacteria are of major importance for biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture. The first antibiotics discovered in Actinobacte‐ ria were actinomycin from a culture of *Streptomyces antibioticus* in 1940, which was then fol‐ lowed by many antibiotic production discoveries, including major classes of clinical antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, β-lactams, macrolides, oxazolidinones, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, streptogramins, glycopeptides, and β-lactamase inhibitors like clavulanic acid. Moreover, some antitumor agents such as daunorubicin, landomycin, and moromycin

We decided to write this book to discuss the different types of Actinobacteria and applica‐ tions of their members in medicine, agriculture, and industry as presented by international

This book consists of several review chapters. Each chapter starts with a brief introduction, including its aim, and then goes on to provide detailed information about current research relevant to the field. The authors give an overview of the Actinobacteria that they used in their research as important microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on humans and/or the environment in a simple way that allows the reader to form a complete picture of these beneficial microorganisms and their suitability as therapeutic and biomaterial agents. Through the chapters, the authors explore Actinobacteria and how these microorganisms could be of great importance to our life. They examine the beneficial effects of Actinobacte‐ ria and the different usages of their secondary metabolites. Future aspects in the develop‐ ment of technologies for the production of improved products are also reviewed here.

We believe that our book is ideal for scientists, especially those who are interested in Actino‐ bacteria. We hope you enjoy reading it. Finally, we would like to thank all the contributing authors without whose dedication and brilliant research this project would not have been

**Dr. Shymaa Enany**

Faculty of Pharmacy Suez Canal University

Ismailia, Egypt

Department of Microbiology and Immunology
