Pseudonocardia species belong to the branch of Gram-positive bacteria known as actinomycetes that are characterised by a high G+C content in their DNA. They are a poorly understood genus of bacteria and the large majority of Pseudonocardia species with 16S rDNA sequence data in the Genbank database were isolated from other animals suggesting they are particularly well adapted to forming symbiosis with other organisms. They are particularly noted for living in a mutualistic symbiosis with the attine ants, fungus-growing ants which include the higher attines known as leaf-cutter ants. Researchers at UEA led by Matt Hutchings deposited the first two draft Pseudonocardia genomes in the Genbank database and both species were isolated from leaf-cutting ants. One of these species was shown to make a novel polyene antifungal named nystatin P1 and, since they are largely unexplored in terms of antibiotic production, it seems that Pseudonocardia may provide us with a new source of novel antibiotics.
Barke J, Seipke RF, Grüschow S, Heavens D, Drou N, Bibb MJ, Goss RJ, Yu DW, Hutchings MI (2010). A mixed community of actinomycetes produce multiple antibiotics for the fungus farming ant Acromyrmex octospinosus. BMC Biol 8:109.
