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Uncultivated Microorganisms pp 217–236Cite as

Metagenomics and Antibiotic Discovery from Uncultivated Bacteria

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Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 10))

Abstract

Metagenomic approaches are transforming studies of diversity and relationships among microbial communities from any source. Catalogs of their genes and gene clusters can be assembled and compared to provide phylogenetic and biochemical information. Here we review the progress of metagenomic approaches for the production of novel small molecules from environmental bacteria, be they cultivable or uncultivable, by means of the isolation and expression of clusters of genes required for small molecule biosynthesis. In recent years, genetic and technical advances have permitted the design of numerous vectors and surrogate hosts that allow the heterologous expression of cloned sequences, and environmental DNA libraries of large fragments that may encode entire biosynthetic pathways for bioactive small molecules can be made. Metagenomic cloning is thus a promising approach for mining the extensive chemical diversity of different microbial populations, in particular by removing the past constraint of cultivation and allowing equal access to the large proportion of the community comprising yet uncultivated members. While the potential is great, there remain many technical barriers and only a limited number of novel compounds have been obtained. Nonetheless, it can be expected that the pharmaceutical promise of microbial products can and will be successfully exploited in coming years.

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  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Life Sciences Centre, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Vivian Miao & Julian Davies

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  1. Vivian Miao
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Correspondence to Vivian Miao .

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  1. Dept. Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, 02115, U.S.A.

    Slava S. Epstein

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Miao, V., Davies, J. (2008). Metagenomics and Antibiotic Discovery from Uncultivated Bacteria. In: Epstein, S. (eds) Uncultivated Microorganisms. Microbiology Monographs, vol 10. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-85465-4_8

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