Isolation, purification and characterisation of an antimicrobial compound produced by Burkholderia sp. from Batu Timbang, Sabah, Malaysia

The effective use of antibiotics is being compromised by the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The search for new antibiotics remains thus an indispensable strategy to overcome AMR. A novel Burkholderia species was isolated from a pristine forest (Imbak Canyon Conservation Area) in Batu Timbang, Sabah (Malaysia). This strain demonstrated promising antibacterial activity against many bacterial pathogens, particularly against MDR gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii. This novel species possesses a high number of biosynthetic gene clusters including a supergene cluster. The antibacterial compound was purified and identified through various spectroscopic methods, and partially characterised. This novel isolated Burkholderia sp. strain seems to be a promising resource for therapeutic applications in the combat against AMR.