Short description
Actinomycetes are
gram-positive bacteria, which are commonly found in nature. They produce interesting natural products, which are the basis of many of the antibiotics developed so far.
Detailed description
While some species of actinomycetes can cause disease in humans, these bacteria are also well-known natural product producers. Scientists screen bacterial extracts for potent substances, which could for instance be further developed into drugs to combat infectious diseases. Due to their appearance under the microscope, which resembles fungi, actinomycetes are also called ray fungi.
