Actinomycetes of the genus Streptomyces in soil from Syria.

Species identification and antagonistic properties of 55 actinomycete strains isolated from Syrian soil were studied. The actinomycete strains belonged to 22 species, of which most abundantly represented were Streptomyces antimycoticus, S. rubiginosohelvolus, S. macrosporeus and S. coerulescens. Actinomycetes belonging to 16 species exhibited antagonism in relation to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi and neoplastic cells.