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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Roy SandersonORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
© The Author(s) 2026.The discovery of novel antibiotics remains a pressing global challenge as many known microorganisms continue to yield compounds already present in existing drugs. To overcome this limitation, bioprospecting in underexplored and extreme environments using both culture-dependent and culture-independent strategies has become essential. In this study, we investigated the microbial diversity of Beach Ridges Interspersed with Swales (BRIS) soil from Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia—an environment characterized by poor nutrient retention, low water-holding capacity, and acidic conditions with lack information available on their microbial community composition. Therefore, this study was conducted with the main objectives to investigate actinomycetes community composition in BRIS soil using metagenomics and culture-dependent approaches. To address these objectives, a dual approach was employed: (i) culture-dependent isolation of actinomycetes using selective media, followed by morphological and 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis, and (ii) culture-independent high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene (Illumina MiSeq) to characterize the broader microbial community. Results from the selective isolation yielded 180 actinomycete isolates grouped into 69 colour-based categories, with 15 representatives identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as belonging predominantly to Streptomyces, alongside the rare genus Dermacoccus. In contrast, metagenomic analysis revealed a far richer microbial landscape comprising 4719 OTUs, 32 bacterial phyla, and 380 genera, including a high proportion of uncultured taxa. Notably, actinobacterial diversity was dominated by Acidothermus, whereas Streptomyces predominated in culture-dependent isolation, highlighting the complementary nature of both approaches. These findings confirm that BRIS soil harbours unique microbial communities shaped by its physicochemical conditions, with potential as a reservoir for rare actinomycetes and novel bioactive compounds. The study provides the first combined culture-dependent and metagenomic insight into BRIS soil microbiota and underscores its promise for future pharmaceutical and biotechnological exploration.
Author(s): Idris H, Hairi HH, Ahmad A, Danish-Daniel M, Zin NM, Sanderson RA, Raja Yahya MFZ, Majhool AA, Hassan MY, Azman MAZ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: International Microbiology
Year: 2026
Pages: epub ahead of print
Online publication date: 19/02/2026
Acceptance date: 14/01/2026
Date deposited: 02/03/2026
ISSN (print): 1139-6709
ISSN (electronic): 1618-1905
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10123-026-00780-w
DOI: 10.1007/s10123-026-00780-w
Data Access Statement: No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study
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