P105: Distribution of soil streptomycetes capable of producing a neurodegenerative compound

The distribution of Streptomyces, a genus of ubiquitous soil bacteria known for their secondary metabolite production, is believed to be influenced by soil geochemistry and local microbial community composition. Studies have indicated that soil properties can be influenced by land use, suggesting different communities of Streptomyces may be found in soils from varying land use patterns.  Additionally, previous research has demonstrated the potential of some species of Streptomyces to produce a neurodegenerative compound. With higher incidence of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder, being reported from rural areas, identifying the diversity and prevalence of compound-producing Streptomyces could lead to a greater understanding of the etiology of Parkinson’s. This study characterized the cultivable Streptomyces communities within soil from different land uses and examined the distribution and prevalence of neurodegenerative compound-producing species. Various Streptomyces- and soil-specific media were used for cultivation and isolates were confirmed as Streptomyces by the generation of appropriately sized amplification products using Streptomyces-specific PCR primers. Box PCR was employed to differentiate between strains, allowing evaluation of the diversity of Streptomyces present. Different strains were recovered from urban, undeveloped and agricultural lands, indicating that land use affects the composition of Streptomyces communities. Studies on the capacity for the production of the neurodegenerative compound are ongoing but preliminary results indicate that approximately 30% of isolates have this ability, with a higher percentage of producers in agricultural soils.  Results of this study will provide needed information on the diversity of Streptomyces communities and potential environmental factors that may affect human neurodegenerative diseases.