Wael N. Hozzein

Wen-Jun Li

Sheng Qin

Syed G. Dastager

Actinobacteria are highly diverse prokaryotes that are ubiquitous in soil, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Although various studies have focused on the ecology of this phylum, data are still scant on the diversity, abundance and ecology of actinobacteria endemic to special and extreme environments, such as gut, plant, alkaline saline soil, deep sea sediments, hot springs and other habitats. Actinobacteria are well-known producers of a vast array of secondary metabolites, many of which have useful applications in medicine and agriculture. Furthermore, actinobacteria also have diverse functions in different environments apart from antibiotic production. For example, actinobacteria are reported to contribute to the break-down and recycling of organic compounds. They play a significant role in fixation of nitrogen, improvement plant growth, biodegradation, bioremediation and environmental protection. Therefore, understanding the actinobacterial diversity and distribution in such special environments is important in deciphering the ecological roles of these microorganisms and for biotechnological bioprospecting. Recent advances in cultivation, DNA sequencing technologies and -omics (metagenomics, metaproteomics etc) methods have greatly contributed to the rapid advancement of our understanding of microbial diversity, function and they interactions with environment. Furthermore, comparative genomic studies can provide overall information about actinobacterial speciation, evolution, metabolism and environment adaptation mechanisms. This research topic comprising reviews and original articles highlights the recent advances regarding the unexpectedly diverse/rare group of actinobacteria with special selective isolation methods or culture-independent methods, as well as their biological activities, ecophysiologica function and mechanisms from diverse special and extreme environments.

Actinobacteria in Special and Extreme Habitats: Diversity, Function Roles and Environmental Adaptations

 Hans-Peter Klenk

Iftikhar Ahmed

Actinobacteria are well-known producers of a vast array of secondary metabolites. Compared with actinobacteria from temperate habitats, the community structure, diversity, biological activities and mechanisms of environmental adaptation of those actinobacteria in special and extreme environments are relatively unstudied and unclear, and their functions and utilization are even less reported. These actinobacteria are potential new sources of novel natural products and functions for exploitation in medicine, agriculture, and industry. Recent advances in cultivation, DNA sequencing technologies and -omics methods have greatly contributed to the rapid advancement of our understanding of microbial diversity, taxonomy, function and they interactions with environment. Following the success of the Research Topic “Actinobacteria in special and extreme habitats: diversity, functional roles and environmental adaptations” organized in 2015, we are happy to launch a second edition. This Research Topic second edition, comprising reviews and original articles, highlights recent discoveries on rare actinobacterial diversity, phylogenomics, biological compounds, ecological function and environmental adaptations of actinobacteria in special and extreme habitats; and broadens our knowledge of actinobacterial diversity and their ecophysiological function.

Sheng Qin

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