Streptomyces

The members of this high GC genus produce several antibiotics including streptomycin, spectinomycin, tetracycline, neomycin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol. Despite an enormous research effort to isolate and characterize the proteins and genes related with antibiotic production, the significant role of Streptomyces in soil ecology has since to be fully explored. The cells form filaments that can appear to be much like the fungal mycelium and as the colony matures, aerial filaments with sporophores are formed. When released these conidia are same in size but distinct from the endospores of Bacillus and Clostridia.