Detection, selective isolation and characterisation of Dactylosporangium strains from diverse environmental samples.

A culture-independent, nested PCR procedure based on genus-specific oligonucleotide primers detected the presence of members of the genus Dactylosporangium in 14 out of 21 diverse environmental samples. Clones generated from the 14 positive environmental samples formed distinct phyletic lines in the dactylosporangial 16S rRNA gene tree. Presumptive dactylosporangiae were isolated from 7 of these samples using a medium designed to be selective for members of the genus Dactylosporangium, namely Streptomyces Isolation Medium supplemented with gentamicin and antifungal antibiotics. One hundred and two out of 219 representative presumptive dactylosporangiae were considered as authentic members of the genus Dactylosporangium as they gave PCR amplification products using the genus-specific primers and had chemical features typical of dactylosporangiae. Representative of the Dactylosporangium isolates formed distinctive phyletic lines in the dactylosporangial 16S rRNA gene tree, contained the non-ribosomal peptide and type-I polyketide synthase genes and inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Kocuria rhizophila and Staphylococcus aureus strains. It is evident from these results that the genus Dactylosporangium is underspeciated, widely distributed in natural habitats and is a potentially rich source of novel secondary metabolites.