Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Streptomyces pakalii sp. nov., a Novel Species with Anti-Biofilm and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity in ESKAPE Bacteria

Researchers have identified Streptomyces pakalii sp. nov., a novel species from the Streptomycetaceae family, isolated from jungle soil in Palenque National Park, Mexico. This bacterium demonstrates significant anti-biofilm and anti-quorum sensing activity against ESKAPE bacteria, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae, offering potential for developing new antimicrobial strategies. Genomic analysis revealed a 7.6 Mb genome with high G+C content (71.6%), encoding putative proteins involved in antibiotic biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and DNA modification. Phylogenetic studies confirmed its distinct status as a new species, closely related to Streptomyces badius and Streptomyces globisporus, supported by average nucleotide identity (ANI) and virtual DNA-DNA hybridization data. The discovery highlights the biotechnological potential of microbial diversity in UNESCO World Heritage Sites for combating multi-resistant infections.

Chávez-Hernández, M., Ortiz-Álvarez, J., Morales-Jiménez, J., Villa-Tanaca, L., & Hernández-Rodríguez, C. (2023). Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Streptomyces pakalii sp. nov., a Novel Species with Anti-Biofilm and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activity in ESKAPE Bacteria. Microorganisms, 11(10), 2551. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102551