Isolation and molecular identification of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes from an old house in the medina of Fez, Morocco

Researchers isolated six antibiotic-producing actinomycetes from soil and deteriorated wood in the historic Medina of Fez, Morocco. Five of these strains exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as Candida albicans. Molecular analysis identified three isolates as Streptomyces species (Streptomyces flavolimosus, S. spiroverticillatus, and S. parvus) and two as Saccharothrix violacea. Notably, the organic extract from one strain showed temperature and proteinase K sensitivity, suggesting a protein-based antibiotic. This study highlights the potential of actinomycetes in Fez's historic environment for producing novel antimicrobial compounds.

Siham, J., Konstantin, B., Mohammed, I., Saad, I., & Abdellatif, H. (2012). Isolation and molecular identification of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes from an old house in the medina of Fez, Morocco. African Journal of Microbiology Research, 6(47), 7370–7376. https://doi.org/10.5897/ajmr12.1711