AUTHOR=Yang Shuai , Zhang Wei , Yang Bo , Feng Xin , Li Yiyang , Li Xiaolin , Liu Qin 

TITLE=Metagenomic evidence for antibiotic-associated actinomycetes in the Karamay Gobi region

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1330880

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1330880

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Due to the misuse of antibiotics, there is an increasing emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, leading to a human health crisis. To address clinical antibiotic resistance and prevent/control pathogenic microorganisms, the development of novel antibiotics is essential. This also offers a new approach to discovering valuable actinobacterial flora capable of producing natural bioactive products. In this study, we employed bioinformatics and macro-genome sequencing to collect 15 soil samples from three different locations in the Karamay Gobi region. First, we assessed the diversity of microorganisms in soil samples from different locations, analyzing the content of bacteria, archaea, actinomycetes, and fungi. The biodiversity of soil samples from outside the Gobi was found to be higher than that of soil samples from within and in the center of the Gobi. Second, through microbial interaction network analysis, we identified actinomycetes as the dominant group in the system. We have identified the top four antibiotic genes, such as <italic>Ecol_fabG_TRC</italic>, <italic>Efac_liaR_DAP</italic>, <italic>tet</italic>A (58), and <italic>mac</italic>B, by CARD. These genes are associated with peptide antibiotics, disinfecting agents and antiseptics, tetracycline antibiotics, and macrolide antibiotics. In addition, we also obtained 40 other antibiotic-related genes through CARD alignment. Through in-depth analysis of desert soil samples, we identified several unstudied microbial species belonging to different families, including <italic>Erythrobacteriaceae</italic>, <italic>Solirubrobacterales</italic>, <italic>Thermoleophilaceae</italic>, <italic>Gaiellaceae</italic>, <italic>Nocardioidaceae</italic>, <italic>Actinomycetia</italic>, <italic>Egibacteraceae</italic>, and <italic>Acidimicrobiales</italic>. These species have the capability to produce peptide antibiotics, macrolide antibiotics, and tetracycline antibiotics, as well as disinfectants and preservatives. This study provides valuable theoretical support for future in-depth research.</p>