Lavendomycin, a new antibiotic. I. Taxonomy, isolation and characterization

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Streptomyces species are a prolific source of bioactive natural products, including antibiotics.
• The discovery of new antibiotics is crucial for combating bacterial resistance.
• Novel amino acids in peptide antibiotics can confer unique properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a new antibiotic from Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. brasilicus.
• To evaluate the antimicrobial activity spectrum of the novel antibiotic.
• To assess the acute toxicity of the isolated compound.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of the antibiotic from the culture broth of Streptomyces lavendulae subsp. brasilicus.
• Chemical characterization of the antibiotic, including determination of its molecular formula and weight.
• In vitro and in vivo testing against various bacterial and fungal species.
• Acute toxicity studies in mice via subcutaneous injection.

Main Results:

• Lavendomycin, a basic peptide antibiotic with novel amino acids, was successfully isolated.
• The antibiotic has the chemical formula C29H50N10O8 and a molecular weight of 666.
• Lavendomycin demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
• No activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.
• Acute toxicity in mice showed an LD50 greater than 2 g/kg.

Conclusions:

• Lavendomycin is a new peptide antibiotic with a defined chemical structure and molecular weight.
• The antibiotic exhibits selective activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
• Its low acute toxicity suggests potential for therapeutic development against Gram-positive infections.