ActinoGEN is an integrated project aimed at developing novel genomics-based approaches to exploit hitherto overlooked genetic resources for new antibiotics. Drug discovery will focus on:

• Accessing new antibiotic biosynthetic pathways from diverse actinomycetes that have yet to be cultured
• Activating cryptic pathways from well-characterised actinomycetes
• Engineering novel hybrid antibiotics by combinatorial biosynthesis

To greatly accelerate the drug discovery process, a parallel strategy will be to engineer generic hosts optimised to produce high antibiotic yields. With the complete genome sequence of the model actinomycete, Streptomyces coelicolor, and mobilization of a pan-European effort to apply newly developed multidisciplinary post-genomic technologies, a holistic understanding of the physiology and regulation of antibiotic biosynthesis is achievable for the first time. This will, in turn, permit rational intervention to engineer generic hosts for high-yield antibiotic production. This synergy of discovery linked to overproduction will place the European biotechnology sector at the forefront of developing much-needed new antibiotics to combat multi-drug resistant pathogens.

Academic Staff
Professor Paul Dyson - Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Coordinator, ActinoGEN

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