291
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017
S. Sugathan et al. (eds.), Bioresources and Bioprocess in Biotechnology,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4284-3_12
D. Francis (*)
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Kannur University,
Thalassery Campus, Kannur, Kerala 670661, India
e-mail: dilipfrans@gmail.com
12
Antimicrobials from Microbes
Dileep Francis
Abstract
Microorganisms are potential sources of antimicrobial substances, including
antiseptics, disinfectants and antibiotics, used to prevent the growth and spread
of harmful microbes. Most of the antimicrobials produced by microorganisms
are secondary metabolites. The antimicrobials produced by microorganisms fall
under chemical classes like Polyketides, terpenes, shikimates, peptides and alkaloids. Microorganisms differ in their potential to produce antimicrobial substances. Bacteria that belong to the genus Streptomyces, Bacillus and
Pseudomonas are prolific producers of antimicrobials. Myxobacteria and filamentous fungi are also producers of important antimicrobials among other prokaryotes. The development of drug-resistant bacteria has resulted in the search
for novel antimicrobials from hitherto untapped microbial sources such as uncultured bacteria.
Keywords
Antimicrobials • Secondary metabolites • Antimicrobial resistance • Antibiotics
• Lantibiotics • Pyocins • Polyketides • Teixobactin
12.1 Introduction
Microorganisms have survived the course of natural selection since life originated
on earth with their simple cellular organization and miniature form. They successfully inhabited every possible surface on the earth including extremes of
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017
S. Sugathan et al. (eds.), Bioresources and Bioprocess in Biotechnology,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4284-3_12
D. Francis (*)
Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, Kannur University,
Thalassery Campus, Kannur, Kerala 670661, India
e-mail: dilipfrans@gmail.com
12
Antimicrobials from Microbes
Dileep Francis
Abstract
Microorganisms are potential sources of antimicrobial substances, including
antiseptics, disinfectants and antibiotics, used to prevent the growth and spread
of harmful microbes. Most of the antimicrobials produced by microorganisms
are secondary metabolites. The antimicrobials produced by microorganisms fall
under chemical classes like Polyketides, terpenes, shikimates, peptides and alkaloids. Microorganisms differ in their potential to produce antimicrobial substances. Bacteria that belong to the genus Streptomyces, Bacillus and
Pseudomonas are prolific producers of antimicrobials. Myxobacteria and filamentous fungi are also producers of important antimicrobials among other prokaryotes. The development of drug-resistant bacteria has resulted in the search
for novel antimicrobials from hitherto untapped microbial sources such as uncultured bacteria.
Keywords
Antimicrobials • Secondary metabolites • Antimicrobial resistance • Antibiotics
• Lantibiotics • Pyocins • Polyketides • Teixobactin
12.1 Introduction
Microorganisms have survived the course of natural selection since life originated
on earth with their simple cellular organization and miniature form. They successfully inhabited every possible surface on the earth including extremes of