Malaysia’s breakthrough in modern actinobacteria (Mod-actino) drug discovery research

Abstract

Actinobacteria are well-known producers of metabolites with medicinal value. The application of actinobacterial compounds has been expanded to other fields, including agriculture, aquaculture, and cosmeceutical. With this, the term “Modern Actinobacteria” (MOD-ACTINO) was first coined by a Malaysian researcher, Associate Professor Dr. Lee Learn Han, to define actinobacteria with modern applications. The present review aims to highlight the MOD-ACTINO research achievements in Malaysia. The Malaysian MOD-ACTINO strains are capable of exerting a wide range of bioactivities such as antimicrobial/anti-MRSA, anticancer, antioxidant, antifungal, and antimalarial. Research on MOD-ACTINO is highly encouraged to harness the benefits of actinobacteria and unravel important metabolites for various applications.