Abstract
AbstractHigh frequency isolation of actinomycetes poses a challenge for the taxonomists hence simple and rapid identification methods are required. Our work to catalogue biodiversity of actinomycetes of Goa yielded several distinct morphotypes. After their tentative identification, the feasibility to distinguish these using digital image analyses (DIA) was explored. Digital images of wild colony morphotypes were processed using public domain SCION image analysis software. DIA revealed some intricate digital characters. A combination of these with standard morphological and microscopic characters could be potentially useful for preparing a digital identification key of the actinomycetes strains with potential application in rapid taxonomic identification.
Highlights
Actinomycetes are prokaryotes having high GC content in their DNA, with various metabolic possibilities (Goshi et al.,2002) and are responsible for the production of about half of the discovered bioactive secondary metabolites, notably antibiotics, antitumor agents, immunosuppressive agents and enzymes which are lead molecules of pharmaceutical interest (Kin, 2006., Shantikumar et al, 2006)
In view of these difficulties, advanced methods for identification of actinomycetes using computer software Actinobase, have been developed for genus-level identification based on archived image files linked to descriptions of International Streptomyces Project (ISP) and other sources ( Surajit. et al.,2006) Besides this, ‘The Atlas of Actinomycetes’, which is the world's first comprehensive reference guide to genus level identification contains 440 photomicrographs of 190 strains corresponding to 55 genera which includes reviews of taxonomy and structural descriptions of compounds produced ( Miyadoh & Hotta, 2002)
At present there is acute shortage of microbial taxonomists in India and very few people are exposed to industrial research and practicing molecular biology of actinomycetes (MTCC, 1998) owing to constraints experienced in isolation and identification
Summary
Actinomycetes are prokaryotes having high GC content in their DNA, with various metabolic possibilities (Goshi et al.,2002) and are responsible for the production of about half of the discovered bioactive secondary metabolites, notably antibiotics, antitumor agents, immunosuppressive agents and enzymes which are lead molecules of pharmaceutical interest (Kin, 2006., Shantikumar et al, 2006). Identification and classification are difficult aspects of actinomycetes research in traditional systems. Identification is possible with the help of traditional morphological criteria and by performing several biochemical tests (Locci et al, 1989) colony isolation is often a frustrating task and the identification involves the time consuming examination of
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