Diversity of superoxide-dismutases among clinical and soil isolates of Streptomyces species

Comparison of the nature, activity, and cellular localization of superoxide -dismutases (SOD) from soil and clinical isolates of Streptomyces species w as investigated to identify possible factors that could account for the pat hological role of the strains isolated from human lesions. Results showed t hat all of the studied strains possessed a cytoplasmic Ni-SOD. This particu lar SOD, found in isolates from patients, could be a new taxonomic criterio n to identify Streptomyces species with greater precision. A second minor S OD, assimilated to an Fe/Zn-SOD, was detected in some strains, but no relat ionship was established between the presence of this enzyme and the clinica l origin of the strains.