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Antibiotics Producing Soil Microorganisms

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Antibiotics and Antibiotics Resistance Genes in Soils

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 51))

Abstract

Several microorganisms are known to produce a wide variety of antibiotics that are being developed and used against numerous life-threatening infections and diseases in humans, animals, and agriculture. Antibiotics are produced by several groups of microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes as their natural defense system against other microbes living in their vicinity. Soils are home to a large and diverse population of microorganisms due to its heterogeneous nature. Large variation in biotic and abiotic conditions of soil makes its microbial inhabitants to adapt and develop strategies for survival and successful reproduction. Production of antimicrobials is one of the most potent strategies for this adaptation. Soil microorganism had always been the primary source for production of antibiotics and still continues to maintain its significance. But indiscriminate use of antibiotics and disinfectants in medicine, agriculture, and fish culture and their release in environment has given birth to another critical problem of multidrug-resistant pathogenic microbes and hence, we are still in need of effective metabolites that can be used as antibiotics to combat these resistant strains. Soil microbes still remain the chief contender for this research. This chapter includes the history, classification, mode of action, and applications of antibiotics. Further, the importance of soil microbes for the production of antibiotics has been explained. The current problems and future aspects of antibiotic production from soil microorganisms have also been discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Biotechnology, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Hadauri, Tindola, Lucknow-Deva Road, Barabanki, 225003, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Niharika Chandra & Sunil Kumar

Authors
  1. Niharika Chandra
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  2. Sunil Kumar
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Correspondence to Sunil Kumar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Meteorology, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

  2. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

    Vladimir Strezov

  3. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Chandra, N., Kumar, S. (2017). Antibiotics Producing Soil Microorganisms. In: Hashmi, M., Strezov, V., Varma, A. (eds) Antibiotics and Antibiotics Resistance Genes in Soils. Soil Biology, vol 51. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66260-2_1

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