Evaluation of combined 16S rDNA and strb1 gene targeted PCR to identify and detect streptomycin-producing Streptomyces.

In this study, two designed primers were evaluated to identify soil Streptomyces and to detect streptomycin production by strb1 targeted PCR. Potential Streptomyces-specific signatures were identified in their 16S rDNA sequences in regions located around nucleotide positions 576 and 995. Primer pair RI7/RI8 derived from these regions was investigated for its specificity in detecting and identifying Streptomyces isolates by PCR assays using DNA from pure cultures. The constructed primer pair showed high specificity in detecting and identifying Streptomyces type strains as well as soil isolates. Streptomycin-producers were detected by PCR assays through the selective amplification of streptomycin biosynthetic gene (strb1). Results suggest that PCR assay facilitates the differential identification of Streptomyces-specific antibiotic producers and a resident population of Streptomyces in Jordan with the capacity of streptomycin-production is present.