Actinobacteria: Versatile Microorganisms with Medical and Pharmaceutical Application

The Actinobacteria receive much attention, since they produce a variety of metabolites, including antibiotics and enzyme inhibitors. These bacteria are distributed in various habitats, including soil, ocean, extreme environments, lichen, plants, and animals. The classification of Actinobacteria based upon the morphological observation, physiological and biochemical characteristics were not adequate to differentiate the genera of this phylum. Following, another identification was available based in the distribution of specific constituents from the cellular wall, such as diaminopimelic acid and carbohydrates. With the advent of molecular biology, the identification of genera and species was more reliable. The screening of microbial natural products has become an important route to discover new bioactive compounds in order to develop new therapeutic agents. Actinobacteria remains one of the leading producers of biopharmaceuticals; endophytic Actinobacteria also yield secondary metabolites with wide range of biological activity. This review focus on gathering relevant information on identification, classification, chemical diversity of Actinobacteria, as well as reveals some biotechnological applications of these bacteria.