title: Streptomyces hygroscopicus
text: # Streptomyces hygroscopicus
  
  Streptomyces hygroscopicus is a bacterial species in the genus Streptomyces. It was first described by Hans Laurits Jensen in 1931.
  
  ## Biochemistry
  
  Cultures of different strains of S. hygroscopicus can be used to produce several chemical compounds or enzymes.
  
  ### Small molecules
  
  **Immunosuppressants**
  
  Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is an immunosuppressant that has been isolated from S. hygroscopicus from soil samples from Easter Island. Ascomycin can be used to treat autoimmune diseases and skin diseases and can help prevent rejection after an organ transplant.
  
  **Antibiotics**
  
  The antibiotics geldanamycin, hygromycin B, nigericin, validamycin, and cyclothiazomycin are found in S. hygroscopicus.
  
  **Experimental cancer drugs**
  
  Indolocarbazoles can be found in S. hygroscopicus .
  
  **Anthelmintics and insecticides**
  
  Milbemycin and milbemycin oxime can be found in S. hygroscopicus cultures.
  
  **Herbicide**
  
  S. hygroscopicus also produces the natural herbicide bialaphos.
  
  ### Enzymes
  
  The enzymes alpha,alpha-trehalose-phosphate synthase (GDP-forming), carboxyvinyl-carboxyphosphonate phosphorylmutase, and hygromycin-B kinase can be isolated from cultures of S. hygroscopicus.
  
  