Study of chemical diversity in Streptomyces venezuelae isolated from contrasting mexican environments using genome mining and bioactivity analysis

Microbial natural products (NPs) have historically been considered one of the most important sources of chemical diversity at an industrial and pharmaceutical level. Many of these molecules are generated through secondary metabolic pathways, and their biosynthesis is mediated by ecological interactions such as defense, competition, and interactions with the environment. The genus Streptomyces represents one of the main groups of producers of specialized metabolites. Previous research in this genus has revealed that even strains of the same species can differ dramatically in the genes that code for these metabolites, indicating a lot of chemical variety to be discovered. Therefore, this work aimed to compare the chemical diversity at the level of biosynthetic genes clusters (BGCs) present in strains of the same species, Streptomyces venezuelae, isolated from two contrasting habitats: a highly oligotrophic environment and a nutrient-rich environment. It is hypothesized that these factors may influence the distribution and content of clusters and the generation of chemicals linked with them. Furthermore, genome mining research revealed a large diversity of BGCs from varied chemical families. These findings open the door to further research into the chemical diversity of Actinobacteria isolated from different geographical locations in the quest for bioactive molecules.