Saccharopolyspora spinosa

Saccharopolyspora spinosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinomycetota
Class: Actinomycetia
Order: Pseudonocardiales
Family: Pseudonocardiaceae
Genus: Saccharopolyspora
Species:
S. spinosa
Binomial name
Saccharopolyspora spinosa
Mertz and Yao 1990

Saccharopolyspora spinosa is a species of actinobacterium first isolated from soil in a rum still in an abandoned sugar mill on the Virgin Islands. It was discovered and described by researchers Mertz and Yao while collecting specimens to be screened for novel antibiotics.[1] It develops aerial, pale, yellowish pink hyphae and bears long chains of spores encased in spiny spore sheaths. It can also reproduce by fragmentation in an aqueous environment. Its type strain is A83543.1 (= NRRL 18395).

Saccharopolyspora spinosa is the source of a family of insecticidal compounds called spinosyns. They act as neurotoxins by activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in insects. The insecticide Spinetoram is composed of two synthetic derivatives of spinosyns.[2]

  1. ^ Mertz, F. P.; Yao, R. C. (1990). "Saccharopolyspora spinosa sp. nov. Isolated from Soil Collected in a Sugar Mill Rum Still". International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 40 (1): 34–39. doi:10.1099/00207713-40-1-34. ISSN 0020-7713.
  2. ^ Bacci L, Lupi D, Savoldelli S, Rossaro B (28 April 2016). "A review of Spinosyns, a derivative of biological acting substances as a class of insecticides with a broad range of action against many insect pests". Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research. 48 (1): 40. doi:10.4081/jear.2016.5653. hdl:2434/380778. ISSN 2279-7084. Retrieved 30 July 2022.