Actinobacteria Basics and Biotechnological Applications Edited by Dharumadurai Dhanasekaran and Yi Jiang Actinobacteria: Basics and Biotechnological Applications Edited by Dharumadurai Dhanasekaran and Yi Jiang Published by ExLi4EvA Copyright © 2016 All chapters are Open Access distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license, which allows users to download, copy and build upon published articles even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. After this work has been published, authors have the right to republish it, in whole or part, in any publication of which they are the author, and to make other personal use of the work. Any republication, referencing or personal use of the work must explicitly identify the original source. As for readers, this license allows users to download, copy and build upon published chapters even for commercial purposes, as long as the author and publisher are properly credited, which ensures maximum dissemination and a wider impact of our publications. Notice Statements and opinions expressed in the chapters are these of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of the editors or publisher. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy of information contained in the published chapters. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any damage or injury to persons or property arising out of the use of any materials, instructions, methods or ideas contained in the book. Publishing Process Manager Technical Editor AvE4EvA MuViMix Records Cover Designer First published February 11, 2016 ISBN-10: 953-51-2248-7 ISBN-13: 978-953-51-2248-7 C ontents Preface Chapter 1 An Introduction to Actinobacteria by Ranjani Anandan, Dhanasekaran Dharumadurai and Gopinath Ponnusamy Manogaran Chapter 2 Isolation and Cultivation Methods of Actinobacteria by Yi Jiang, Qinyuan Li, Xiu Chen and Chenglin Jiang Chapter 3 Morphological Identification of Actinobacteria by Qinyuan Li, Xiu Chen, Yi Jiang and Chenglin Jiang Chapter 4 Cultural, Physiological, and Biochemical Identification of Actinobacteria by Qinyuan Li, Xiu Chen, Yi Jiang and Chenglin Jiang Chapter 5 Chemotaxonomy of Actinobacteria by Yongxia Wang and Yi Jiang Chapter 6 Molecular Phylogenetic Identification of Actinobacteria by Xiu Chen, Yi Jiang, Qinyuan Li, Li Han and Chenglin Jiang Chapter 7 Production of Antibacterial Compounds from Actinomycetes by Letizia Lo Grasso, Delia Chillura Martino and Rosa Alduina Chapter 8 Biotechnological Potential of Oxidative Enzymes from Actinobacteria by Marilize Le Roes-Hill and Alaric Prins Chapter 9 Hypersaline Actinomycetes and Their Biological Applications by Mariadhas Valan Arasu, Galal Ali Esmail and Naif Abdullah Al-Dhabi VI Contents Chapter 10 Actinobacteria as Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria by Marcela Franco-Correa and Vanessa Chavarro-Anzola Chapter 11 Frankia as a Biodegrading Agent by Medhat Rehan, Erik Swanson and Louis S. Tisa Chapter 12 Enzymes and Phytohormones from Micromonospora by Waleed M. Abdulkhair and Mousa A. Alghuthaymi Chapter 13 Industrial Enzymes and Metabolites from Actinobacteria in Food and Medicine Industry by María Valdés Ramírez and Liliana Calzadíaz Chapter 14 Actinobacteria — A Biofactory of Novel Enzymes by Govindharaj Vaijayanthi, Ramasamy Vijayakumar and Dharmadurai Dhanasekaran Chapter 15 Advanced Oxidation Process Applied to Actinobacterium Disinfection by Michelle Fernanda Brugnera, Bárbara Camila de Araújo Souza and Maria Valnice Boldrin Zanoni Chapter 16 Green Nano Actinobacteriology – An Interdisciplinary Study by Mrinalini J. Singh Preface This book presents an introductory overview of Actinobacteria with three main divisions: taxonomic principles, bioprospecting, and agriculture and industrial utility, which covers isolation, cultivation methods, and identification of Actinobacteria and production and biotechnological potential of antibacterial compounds and enzymes from Actinobacteria. Moreover, this book also provides a comprehensive account on plant growth-promoting (PGP) and pollutant degrading ability of Actinobacteria and the exploitation of Actinobacteria as ecofriendly nanofactories for biosynthesis of nanoparticles, such as gold and silver. This book will be beneficial for the graduate students, teachers, researchers, biotechnologists, and other professionals, who are interested to fortify and expand their knowledge about Actinobacteria in the field of Microbiology, Biotechnology, Biomedical Science, Plant Science, Agriculture, Plant pathology, Environmental Science, etc. Chapter 1 An Introduction to Actinobacteria Ranjani Anandan, Dhanasekaran Dharumadurai and Gopinath Ponnusamy Manogaran Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/62329 Abstract Actinobacteria, which share the characteristics of both bacteria and fungi, are widely dis‐ tributed in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, mainly in soil, where they play an es‐ sential role in recycling refractory biomaterials by decomposing complex mixtures of polymers in dead plants and animals and fungal materials. They are considered as the bi‐ otechnologically valuable bacteria that are exploited for its secondary metabolite produc‐ tion. Approximately, 10,000 bioactive metabolites are produced by Actinobacteria, which is 45% of all bioactive microbial metabolites discovered. Especially Streptomyces species produce industrially important microorganisms as they are a rich source of several useful bioactive natural products with potential applications. Though it has various applica‐ tions, some Actinobacteria have its own negative effect against plants, animals, and hu‐ mans. On this context, this chapter summarizes the general characteristics of Actinobacteria, its habitat, systematic classification, various biotechnological applications, and negative impact on plants and animals. Keywords: Actinobacteria, Characteristics, Habitat, Types, Secondary metabolites, Appli‐ cations, Pathogens 1. Introduction Actinobacteria are a group of Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content in their DNA, which can be terrestrial or aquatic. Though they are unicellular like bacteria, they do not have distinct cell wall, but they produce a mycelium that is nonseptate and more slender. Actinobacteria include some of the most common soil, freshwater, and marine type, playing an important role in decomposition of organic materials, such as cellulose and chitin, thereby playing a vital part in organic matter turnover and carbon cycle, replenishing the supply of nutrients in the soil, and is an important part of humus formation. Actinobacterial