Bioremediation of pesticides and herbicides by streptomycetes

The streptomycetes are a diverse group of Gram positive soil microorganisms which produce a large number of important chemicals including antibiotics, antitumor drugs, and specific enzyme inhibitors. It has proved possible to isolate Streptomyces species from soil enrichments with unique capabilities to biodegrade numerous xenobiotics. The ability of these organisms to undergo the unusual phenomena of active chromosomal rearrangements, deletions, and amplifications (Schrempf, 1985) probably enhances the selection of such novel strains. In this presentation, a general discussion will be presented of progress made and of the future potential for the utilization of streptomycetes for the environmental bioremediation of pesticides and herbicides.