Exploring Antimicrobial Efficacy and Enzymatic Versatility of a Novel Nocardiopsis sp. RB8 Strain

Abstract

Actinomycetes are well recognized for their ability to produce biologically active compounds and industrially important enzymes. Nocardiopsis species are notable actinomycetes recognized for their ability to produce diverse bioactive metabolites and enzymes. In this study, a slow-growing actinomycete strain, designated Nocardiopsis sp. RB8, was isolated and characterized using phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular approaches. The strain exhibited distinct cultural and morphological features and demonstrated the ability to produce multiple hydrolytic enzymes, along with antimicrobial activity against selected bacterial and fungal pathogens. Antibiotic susceptibility profiling indicated sensitivity to several clinically relevant antibiotics while showing resistance to β-lactam agents. Molecular analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed sequence similarity values below the threshold for species-level identification, suggesting that strain RB8 may represent a novel species within the genus Nocardiopsis. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Nocardiopsis sp. RB8 possesses significant potential for natural product discovery and industrial enzyme production. These promising attributes warrant further comprehensive genomic and metabolic analysis to confirm the strain’s novelty and to fully elucidate its biotechnological value.