The role of the soil as a treasure trove of new, useful, natural products is again confirmed by the discovery of as yet unknown genes in Lysobacter bacteria. Research conducted by Wageningen UR and NIOO shows that these genes or gene clusters are probably code for currently unknown antimicrobial substances.
Lysobacter bacteria are known for their disease-suppressing properties against the soil fungus Rhizoctonia. This fungus causes root rot in many crops, such as potatoes, sugar beets, vegetables and bulbs. Until now, however, little was known about how Lysobacter bacteria function. Researchers from Wageningen UR and the Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO) therefore mapped out the properties and genes of various Lysobacter species. The results of this research not only confirmed the presence of genes for the production of previously known antimicrobial agents but also identified unknown genes or gene clusters that probably code for as yet unknown antimicrobials. This once again demonstrates the role of soil as an important treasure trove of new, useful, natural products.