Industrial microbiology — producer organism for the antibiotic streptomycin In pharmaceutical fermentation, which specific microorganism is classically used to produce the antibiotic streptomycin at industrial scale?

Introduction / Context:
Streptomycin was the first aminoglycoside antibiotic discovered with broad activity against Gram-negative bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Identifying the correct producer strain is fundamental in industrial microbiology, strain improvement, and historical pharmabiotechnology.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question concerns the canonical, historically established producer of streptomycin.
• Focus is on genus Streptomyces and related actinomycetes used in antibiotic fermentations.
• Answer requires precise species-level identification.

Concept / Approach:

Many antibiotics originate from soil actinomycetes. Each antibiotic has a well-documented first-discovered producer organism. For streptomycin, the classic and widely cited producer is Streptomyces griseus, isolated in the 1940s. Although other Streptomyces species produce different tetracyclines or macrolides, streptomycin’s textbook association remains S. griseus.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Standard references in pharmaceutical microbiology consistently attribute streptomycin production to Streptomyces griseus; this fact is also reflected in strain improvement literature and Nobel-cited discovery histories.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

S. griseoflavus, S. aerofaciens, and S. ramosus are associated with other antibiotic families (e.g., tetracyclines). Micromonospora purpurea produces gentamicin, not streptomycin.

Common Pitfalls:

Confusing different actinomycetes that produce unrelated antibiotics due to similar genus names. Always tie each antibiotic to its canonical discovery strain.

Final Answer:

S. griseus