An induction of Undecylprodigiosin Production from Streptomyces coelicolor by Elicitation with Microbial Cells Using Solid State Fermentation

Red pigmented undecylpro digiosin produced by Streptomyces coelicolor (A3)2 is a promising drug owing to its characteristics of antibacterial, antifungal, immunosuppressive and anticancer activities. The culture of S. coelicolor in liquid medium produces mainly the blue pigmented actinorhodin and only low quantities of undecylprodigiosin. From an industrial point of view, it is necessary to find a strategy to improve undecylprodigiosin production. The present study provides evidence that cultivation of S. coelicolor on solid substrate resulted in a reversal in this pattern of antibiotic production as the production of undecylprodigiosin was significantly increased and actinorhodin was completely suppressed. Four different solid substrate (wheat bran, soya bean ground, rice husk and ground corn) were tested for their ability to support the maximal production of undecylprodigiosin in solid state fermentation. Wheat bran showed the highest production of undecylprodigiosin, starting from the first day of incubation at a moisture level of (1:1 weight: volume) and reaching its maximum of 16 mg/gds on the fourth day. In addition, we report the exploitation of the interspecies interaction in order to enhance undecylprodigiosin production by introducing live or dead cells of E. coli, Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, separately, to Streptomyces coelicolor solid substrate fermentation. Our results revealed a significant increase in the production of undecylprodigiosin in the elicited cultures compared with control. The maximum enhancement occurred in the culture elicited with the live cells of B. subtilis with an increase of 2-fold compared with control.