Microorganisms serve as attractive resources, owing to their ability to synthesize structurally-diverse substanceswith various bioactivities. Within the Bacteria domain, members of the genus Streptomyces have demonstrated remarkableability to produce clinically useful, secondary metabolites such as anticancer, antioxidants, antivirals and antibacterials.Streptomyces pluripotens MUSC 135T was isolated as novel strain from mangrove forest in Malaysia. This strain exhibitedbroad spectrum bacteriocin against several pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strainATCC BAA-44, Salmonella typhi ATCC 19430T and Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 7966T. Thus, the strain was selected forwhole genome sequencing as an attempt to explore its bioactive potential. Here we report the first complete genome of S.pluripotens MUSC 135T genome which comprise of 7.35 Mbp with G+C content of 69.9 %. A total of 6,404 open readingframes (ORFs) were predicted, along with 18 rRNA and 69 tRNA genes. Using bacteriocin mining tool, BAGEL detectedeights gene clusters associated with bacteriocin production including lanthipeptides and linear azol(in)e-containing peptides(LAPs). Members of Streptomyces have contributed greatly towards improving lives, particularly against deadly infectionsand chronic diseases. The availability of S. pluripotens MUSC 135T genome sequence has opened new window for drugdiscovery, particularly for effective drugs against harmful pathogens such as MRSA and certainly deserves further detailedstudy.

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Members of Streptomyces are known to be prolific producers of bioactive compounds, including antibacterials, antioxidants, neuroprotective agents as well as immunomodulatory compounds. Isolated from East Malaysia, Streptomyces monashensis MUSC 1JT (=DSM 103626T =MCCC 1K03221T) was initially described as a novel streptomycete using a polyphasic approach. Based on phylogenetic analyses, the closely strains related to MUSC 1JT were identified as Streptomyces corchorusii DSM 40340T (98.7 %), Streptomyces olivaceoviridis NBRC 3066T (98.7 %), Streptomyces canarius NBRC 13431T (98.6 %), and Streptomyces coacervatus AS-0823T (98.4 %). Seven day fermentative extracts of MUSC 1JT exhibited potent antioxidant activity and significant cytotoxic activity against colon cancer cell lines, thus the strain was selected for whole genome sequencing. The genome size of MUSC 1JT is described to be 10.3 Mbps with G + C content of 71.50%. Based on antiSMASH analysis, the strain possessess great genomic potential, having fifty nine biosynthetic gene clusters related to production of secondary metabolites and antibiotics. Therefore, these results serve a foundation for further in-depth investigation to harness its bioactive potential for the development of highly valuable pharmaceutical products.

Microbacterium mangrovi strain MUSC 115T was isolated from intertidal sediments of Kuantan, Malaysia. Here we describe the draft genome of amylolytic strain MUSC 115T with total size of 4.4 Mbp from 55 contigs and G + C content of 70.0%. Total of 4,096 coding genes were observed, with 2 putative amylases genes in the draft genome of MUSC 115T. These genome features of MUSC 115T can improve our understanding of its starch-degrading mechanism and general physiology of the species, which provide opportunities for biotechnological and industrial exploitation.

Under the family Actinobacteria, streptomycetes are ubiquitous in nature, producing a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds including antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and immunomodulatory properties. During a screening programme in Malaysia, Streptomyces colonosanans MUSC 93JT was isolated as a novel Streptomyces sp. from the mangrove soil in Sarawak. The strain exhibited potent antioxidant activities and cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines. Due to these data, the strain was subjected to whole genome sequencing to uncover its genomic potential and further improve the understanding of the strain. The genome of MUSC 93JT consists of 7,015,076 bp (G + C content of 69.90%), carrying a total of 5,859 protein coding genes. Analysis using a bioinformatics tool, antiSMASH predicted a total of four biosynthetic gene clusters which displayed similarity of more than 70% to known gene clusters and one of which was associated with the production of a natural protectant, ectoine. Displaying selective toxicity that kills only cancer cells, ectoine has showed its potential to be developed as therapeutic agents for humans. Altogether, the current project clearly highlights the importance of under-explored environment like mangrove in natural product discovery. The availability of whole genome sequence MUSC 93JT warrants subsequent in-depth investigation and optimization for the production of bioactive compounds which can be exploited for the health and wellbeing of mankind.