Actinomycetes from diverse Malaysian habitats and ecosystems

Malaysia, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, supports diverse ecosystems that harbour rich microbial communities, including actinomycetes. These Gram-positive, high-GC-content bacteria occur in terrestrial soil, marine sediments and plant tissues, where they contribute to nutrient cycling, plant growth promotion, pathogen suppression and the production of bioactive metabolites. This review covers studies from 2010 to 2024 on the diversity of actinomycetes isolated from Malaysian ecosystems. Several novel actinomycete species were reported from Malaysian environments, predominantly mangrove soils in Peninsular Malaysia, with fewer studies in East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). While Malaysian mangroves and marine sediments have been frequently sampled, rainforest ecosystems remain underexplored despite their exceptional plant diversity. Malaysian actinomycetes exhibit promising pharmaceutical and agricultural applications, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and insecticidal activities, as well as plant growth-promoting traits. However, few studies have incorporated genome-based approaches or systematic screening of biosynthetic gene clusters. Expanding biogeographic surveys and integrating high-throughput genomic and metabolomic methods are essential to unlock the full biotechnological potential of Malaysia’s actinomycetes.