Colony politics to chemical warfare: phenotypic plasticity in Streptomyces

Members of the genus Streptomyces are prolific producers of antibiotics and bioactive natural products, whose biosynthesis is intricately linked to complex social and ecological interactions. Understanding how these bacteria adaptively regulate development and natural product biosynthesis in response to diverse environmental cues remains incomplete. Here, recent advances are synthesised revealing that phenotypic plasticity in Streptomyces is underpinned by regulatory networks integrating physiological and social signals, enabling multicellular differentiation, division of labour, and alternative growth modes such as exploration and foraging. These dynamic responses allow colonies to balance competition, cooperation, and reproduction in fluctuating environments. Our insights highlight the ecological and evolutionary significance of plasticity in shaping Streptomyces biology, with implications for natural product discovery and understanding microbial community dynamics.