The use of molecular biology to reprogram Streptomyces to make polyketide antibiotics more efficiently, and create novel secondary metabolites.

Recent advances in the molecular genetics of Streptomyces have increased ou r understanding of polyketide antibiotic biosynthesis, to the point where r ecombinant DNA approaches to generate novel structures are possible. Our un derstanding of how antibiotic pathways are regulated and integrated into ce ntral metabolism also provides the opportunity for strain manipulation to e nhance productivity.