streptomyces hygroscopicus streptomyces hygroscopicus streptomyces hygroscopicus is a bacterial species in the genus streptomyces. it was first described by hans laurits jensen in 1931. streptomyces hygroscopicus streptomyces hygroscopicus colonies scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: actinomycetota class: actinomycetia order: streptomycetales family: streptomycetaceae genus: streptomyces species: s. hygroscopicus binomial name streptomyces hygroscopicus(jensen, 1931) yüntsen et al., 1956 subspecies subsp. "aureolacrimosus" takiguchi et al., 1980 subsp. hygroscopicus (jensen 1931) yüntsen et al., 1956 (approved lists 1980) subsp. ossamyceticus schmitz et al., 1965 (approved lists 1980) subsp. "yakushimaensis" hatanaka et al., 1988 synonyms "actinomyces hygroscopicus" jensen, 1931 streptomyces endus anderson and gottlieb, 1952 (approved lists 1980) streptomyces sporocinereus (ex krassilnikov, 1970) preobrazhenskaya, 1986 biochemistry cultures of different strains of s. hygroscopicus can be used to produce a number of chemical compounds or enzymes. immunosuppressants 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. antibiotics the antibiotics geldanamycin, hygromycin b, nigericin, validamycin, and cyclothiazomycin are found in s. hygroscopicus. experimental cancer drugs indolocarbazoles can be found in s. hygroscopicus . anthelmintics and insecticides milbemycin and milbemycin oxime can be found in s. hygroscopicus cultures. herbicide s. hygroscopicus also produces the natural herbicide bialaphos. enzymes the enzymes alpha,alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase (gdp-forming), carboxyvinyl-carboxyphosphonate phosphorylmutase and hygromycin-b kinase can be isolated from cultures of s. hygroscopicus.