Red Sea Streptomyces Reveals New Bioactive Metabolites through Genomic and Metabolomic Integration

Red Sea Microbe Unveils Hidden Treasure of Bioactive Compounds

A groundbreaking study published in Marine Drugs (2025) has unveiled a wealth of natural metabolites from Streptomyces tunisiensis, a bacterium living symbiotically with the colorful Red Sea nudibranch Chromodoris quadricolor. The research, led by Samar M. Abdelrahman and colleagues, combines cutting-edge genomics and metabolomics to decode the microbial chemistry behind marine invertebrate microbiomes.

Mining the Genome for Biosynthetic Gold

Through whole-genome sequencing and advanced bioinformatics tools like antiSMASH and DeepBGC, researchers identified 36 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in the S. tunisiensis genome. These clusters encode diverse compounds, including polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, terpenes, and RiPPs—key sources of bioactive molecules. Notably, eight clusters matched known compounds, while others appeared entirely novel, signaling strong potential for new natural product discovery.

Metabolomic Insights: 569 Compounds and a Rare Lassopeptide

High-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) revealed 569 metabolites, of which 86 were identified using public spectral databases. Among them were siderophores like desferrioxamine and bisucaberin, along with a rare lassopeptide—aborycin—confirmed in both genomic and metabolomic analyses. These metabolites exhibit antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, suggesting potential pharmaceutical applications.

Why It Matters

Marine Streptomyces species are known as prolific producers of antibiotics and bioactive compounds. Yet, this study’s integration of genomics and metabolomics from a nudibranch-associated strain marks a major step toward uncovering hidden biochemical pathways in marine symbioses. The findings not only highlight the biodiversity of the Red Sea but also demonstrate how marine microbes could be key players in the next generation of antibiotic and anticancer drug discovery.

Reference

Abdelrahman, S. M., Pratte, Z. A., El Samak, M., Dosoky, N. S., Hanora, A. M. S., Stewart, F. J., & Lopanik, N. B. (2025). Genomic and Metabolomic Insights into Metabolites of a Streptomyces Isolate Associated with Chromodoris quadricolor, a Red Sea Nudibranch. Marine Drugs, 23(10), 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/md23100404