Spatial separation of Streptomyces aerial mycelium during fermentation enhances secondary metabolite production

Abstract Conditioning of morphology is an effective technique to enhance secondary metabolite production by Streptomyces . Here we report a novel conditioning method employing glass marbles in batch cultures to enhance secondary metabolite production by Streptomyces sp . The marbles seem to spatially separate aerial and submerged mycelia in the flask which was necessary for the qualitative and quantitative enhancement of metabolite production of secondary metabolites. The method also offers shorter incubation period compared to conventional methods for effective production. Further, using a combination of this method and response surface methodology we could enhance the production of antimycobacterial molecules chrysomycin A and B significantly. Importance Rediscovery of existing molecules and lack of techniques to induce production of secondary metabolites are the major bottlenecks associated with drug discovery of novel bioactive molecules from Streptomyces , the major source of marketable drugs today. We found a new method to increase the diversity and quantity of secondary metabolites in two Streptomyces species. This method thus enhances the chance of finding novel active principles from Streptomyces .