Streptomyces hygroscopicus

Streptomyces hygroscopicus is a bacterial species in the genus Streptomyces. It was first described by Hans Laurits Jensen in 1931. Cultures of different strains of S. hygroscopicus can be used to produce a number of chemical compounds or enzymes. Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is an immunosuppressant that has been isolated from S. hygroscopicus from soil samples from Easter Island. Ascomycin can be used to treat autoimmune diseases and skin diseases, and can help prevent rejection after an organ transplant. The antibiotics geldanamycin, hygromycin B, nigericin, validamycin, and cyclothiazomycin are found in S. hygroscopicus. Indolocarbazoles can be found in S. hygroscopicus . Milbemycin and milbemycin oxime can be found in S. hygroscopicus cultures. S. hygroscopicus also produces the natural herbicide bialaphos.