Streptomyces and related actinobacteria are prolific producers of drug-like molecules. They produce nearly half of all known microbial bioactive natural products, and nearly 2/3rds of our clinically- utilized antibiotics. They strongly impact medicine and agriculture as producers of human and animal therapeutics, molecular probes, and crop protective agents.

Although these bacteria are a traditional source of valuable molecules, more recent genome analyses indicate that only a small fraction of their biosynthetic potential has been tapped thus far. This realization has engendered a new research paradigm; that of sequencing-based molecule discovery. Cognizant of the true molecule production capacity of these organisms, we’re now enabled to begin deciphering the evolutionary roles of their unique chemistry while creating opportunities to discover novel pharmacophores.