Streptomyces derivatives 

Streptomyces derivatives are antibiotics with a spectrum of activity that includes many mycobacterium and some gram-positive and -negative bacteria. They are used to treat tuberculosis in the lungs and other places in the body, in conjunction with other antituberculosis agents, when treatment with other medicines has not been effective.

Streptomyces, yielded the medicines doxorubicin (Doxil), daunorubicin (DaunoXome), and streptozotocin (Zanosar). Doxorubicin is the precursor to valrubicin (Valstar), myocet, and pirarubicin. Daunorubicin is the precursor to idarubicin (Idamycin), epirubicin (Ellence), and zorubicin.

The most interesting property of Streptomyces is the ability to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, such as antifungals, antivirals, antitumorals, anti-hypertensives, immunosuppressants, and especially antibiotics.

Streptomycin is the first discovered aminoglycoside antibiotic, originally isolated from the bacteria Streptomyces griseus. It is now primarily used as part of the multi-drug treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Streptomyces generally synthesize their antibiotics using large enzymatic complexes like polyketide synthases (PKSs), non-ribosomal peptide synthases (NRPSs) or a combination of both.