Diversa, Celera complete sequencing of Streptomyces diversa genome

Diversa Corporation and Celera Genomics have announced the completion of the entire genome sequence of Streptomyces diversa. The companies completed the sequencing under the collaborative agreement signed in December of 2000.

The availability of the genome sequence should enable faster discovery and development of novel molecules of pharmaceutical interest from Diversa's PathwayLibraries.

Diversa's strain, Streptomyces diversa, belongs to a group of microorganisms, the actinomycetes, that produce the majority of antibiotics used in human and veterinary medicine and agriculture, as well as immuno-suppressants, anti-parasitic agents, and herbicides. The availability of the genome sequence, together with the application of technologies permitting the global analysis of gene expression at both the RNA and protein levels, and the extensive array of tools available for the genetic manipulation of this organism, will enable Diversa to fully utilize S. diversa for the production of novel compounds of pharmaceutical interest.

Diversa's PathwayLibraries consist of collections of gene pathways from environmental sources that encode small molecule drug candidates. The recombinant libraries are generated directly from uncultivated microorganisms using Diversa's methods of extracting DNA from the environment, and by applying patented normalisation methodologies. The gene pathways are introduced into S. diversa and screened at ultra high-throughput rates for novel activities of pharmaceutical interest. This approach accelerates natural drug discovery and allows the identification of gene products from the over 99% of microbes that remain unexplored.