Book chapter
Eco-Taxonomic Insights into Actinomycete Symbionts of Termites for Discovery of Novel Bioactive Compounds
Biotechnological Applications of Biodiversity, pp.111-135
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology (ABE), 147, Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2015
Abstract
Termites play a major role in foraging and degradation of plant biomass as well as cultivating bioactive microorganisms for their defense. Current advances in "omics" sciences are revealing insights into function-related presence of these symbionts, and their related biosynthetic activities and genes identified in gut symbiotic bacteria might offer a significant potential for biotechnology and biodiscovery. Actinomycetes have been the major producers of bioactive compounds with an extraordinary range of biological activities. These metabolites have been in use as anticancer agents, immune suppressants, and most notably, as antibiotics. Insect-associated actinomycetes have also been reported to produce a range of antibiotics such as dentigerumycin and mycangimycin. Advances in genomics targeting a single species of the unculturable microbial members are currently aiding an improved understanding of the symbiotic interrelationships among the gut microorganisms as well as revealing the taxonomical identity and functions of the complex multilayered symbiotic actinofloral layers. If combined with target-directed approaches, these molecular advances can provide guidance towards the design of highly selective culturing methods to generate further information related to the physiology and growth requirements of these bioactive actinomycetes associated with the termite guts. This chapter provides an overview on the termite gut symbiotic actinoflora in the light of current advances in the "omics" science, with examples of their detection and selective isolation from the guts of the Sunshine Coast regional termite Coptotermes lacteus in Queensland, Australia.
Details
- Title
- Eco-Taxonomic Insights into Actinomycete Symbionts of Termites for Discovery of Novel Bioactive Compounds
- Authors
- D Ipek Kurtboke (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringJohn R J French (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and EngineeringR Andrew Hayes (Author) - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, BrisbaneR J Quinn (Author) - Griffith University
- Contributors
- Joydeep Mukherjee (Editor)
- Publication details
- Biotechnological Applications of Biodiversity, pp.111-135
- Series
- Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology (ABE); 147
- Publisher
- Springer Berlin Heidelberg
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1007/10_2014_270
- ISBN
- 9783662450963
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; Forest Industries Research Centre; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99448860002621
- Output Type
- Book chapter
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web Of Science research areas
- Biodiversity Conservation
- Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
- Chemistry, Medicinal
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