Myxobacteria: Producers of Enormous Bioactive Secondary Metabolites

Abstract

Myxobacteria are of great interest due to their unique social lifestyle and as potential producer of many useful and novel bioactive secondary metabolites. Their abilities such as gliding motility, predation by producing antibiotics, lytic enzymes and formation of fruiting bodies and myxospores under nutrient deficient conditions makes them unique from other bacteria. In this review article, production of antibacterial, antifungal and agriculturally important metabolites by various myxobacterium strains are discussed. Some cytotoxic compounds produced by them are also discussed which makes them potential producers of cancer chemotherapeutics in near future.