streptomyces streptomyces streptomyces is the largest genus of actinomycetota and the type genus of the family streptomycetaceae. over 500 species of streptomyces bacteria have been described. as with the other actinomycetota, streptomycetes are gram-positive, and have genomes with high gc content. found predominantly in soil and decaying vegetation, most streptomycetes produce spores, and are noted for their distinct "earthy" odor that results from production of a volatile metabolite, geosmin. streptomyces slide culture of a streptomyces species scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: actinomycetota class: actinomycetia order: streptomycetales family: streptomycetaceae genus: streptomyceswaksman and henrici 1943 (approved lists 1980) diversity about 550 species synonyms actinopycnidium krassilnikov 1962 (approved lists 1980) actinosporangium krassilnikov and yuan 1961 (approved lists 1980) chainia thirumalachar 1955 (approved lists 1980) elytrosporangium falcão de morais et al. 1966 (approved lists 1980) "indiella" brumpt 1906 kitasatoa matsumae and hata 1968 (approved lists 1980) "macrospora" tsyganov et al. 1964 "microechinospora" konev et al. 1967 microellobosporia cross et al. 1963 (approved lists 1980) "oospora" krüger 1904 streptoverticillium baldacci 1958 (approved lists 1980) streptomyces mycelial sheets streptomycetes are characterised by a complex secondary metabolism. they produce over two-thirds of the clinically useful antibiotics of natural origin (e.g., neomycin, streptomycin, cypemycin, grisemycin, bottromycins and chloramphenicol). the antibiotic streptomycin takes its name directly from streptomyces. streptomycetes are infrequent pathogens, though infections in humans, such as mycetoma, can be caused by s. somaliensis and s. sudanensis, and in plants can be caused by s. caviscabies, s. acidiscabies, s. turgidiscabies and s. scabies. taxonomy