Distribution of .BETA.-lactam and .BETA.-lactone producing bacteria in nature.

Abstract
Over one million bacteria were isolated from a large variety of soil, plant and water samples collected from different environments and examined in an extremely sensitive and highly specific screen for .beta.-lactam production. A group of 7 related monocyclic .beta.-lactams (monobactams) were isolated from strains representing 4 genera, Agrobacterium, Chromobacterium, Gluconobacter and Pseudomonas. Monobactam-producing strains of Agrobacterium and Pseudomonas were isolated only rarely. Producing strains of Chromobacterium were isolated from a relatively limited number of habitats, while the Gluconobacter strains appeared to be widespread in nature. Three closely related .beta.-lactone-containing molecules were isolated from strains representing 3 genera, Arthrobacter, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The Bacillus and Pseudomonas strains were isolated infrequently but from a variety of samples. The producing strain of Arthrobacter was isolated only once.