Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028
09:08

From a Natural Product to Its Biosynthetic Gene Cluster: A Demonstration Using Polyketomycin from Streptomyces diastatochromogenes Tü6028

Published on: January 13, 2017

Exploring diverse chemotypes of natural polyenes as promising antimicrobial candidates: Latest progress and

Gautam Kumar1, Murali Monohar Pandey1

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Vidya Vihar, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani, Rajasthan, 333031, India.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
|May 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat. This review highlights polyene natural products as promising new antibiotics against resistant pathogens, offering hope for treating infections.

Area of Science:

  • Natural product chemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious diseases

Background:

  • Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health threat, leading to increased mortality and socioeconomic burdens.
  • Existing antibiotics are becoming less effective as pathogens develop resistance.
  • There is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents with diverse mechanisms of action.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recently identified polyene-based natural products with potential antimicrobial activity.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of these natural compounds against various human infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific databases for studies on polyene natural products and their antimicrobial properties.
  • Analysis of the chemical structures and biological activities of identified polyene leads.
  • Summary of reported efficacies against fungal, bacterial, protozoal, and viral pathogens.

Main Results:

  • Polyene natural products, a class of secondary metabolites, demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity.
  • Compounds like amphotericin, nystatin, and natamycin are effective against fungal infections with low resistance development.
  • Recently identified polyene leads show promise against a range of pathogens, including bacteria, protozoa, and viruses.

Conclusions:

  • Polyene natural products represent a valuable source for developing new antibiotics to combat resistant infections.
  • Their unique membrane-permeating properties and diverse mechanisms offer a promising strategy against drug-resistant pathogens.
  • Further clinical development of these natural polyenes is warranted to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.
Keywords:
AntibacterialAntifungalAntiprotozoalAntiviralPolyene

Related Concept Videos

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing01:28

Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing

Quorum sensing is a mechanism of bacterial communication that enables coordinated gene expression in response to changes in population density. This facilitates collective behaviors that enhance survival, resource acquisition, and ecological adaptation. This process relies on small signaling molecules called autoinducers that accumulate as bacterial populations grow. When a critical threshold concentration of autoinducers is reached, bacterial cells collectively modify gene expression,...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Microbial Corrosion01:24

Microbial Corrosion

Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) is a significant form of material degradation caused by the metabolic activities of microorganisms. This phenomenon poses substantial challenges across various industries, including oil and gas, maritime, and water treatment sectors.MIC occurs when microorganisms, such as bacteria, archaea, and fungi, colonize metal surfaces, forming biofilms that alter the local electrochemical environment. These biofilms can lead to the production of corrosive...
Production of Antibiotics01:27

Production of Antibiotics

Penicillin, one of the earliest and most widely used antibiotics, is produced industrially by the filamentous fungus Penicillium chrysogenum. Large stirred-tank bioreactors ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of liters maintain tightly controlled temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen conditions to support fungal metabolism and maximize antibiotic yield. Penicillin is a secondary metabolite, synthesized primarily during the stationary growth phase, which requires a carefully managed...