Separation and biologic activities of individual components of S15-1, a streptothricin class antibiotic

A method is described for isolation of gram quantities of the components of the streptothricin complex S15-1 utilizing CM Sephadex column chromatography eluted with 10% acetic acid as an eluant followed by gradient elution with 10% acetic acid containing 0.02 N approximately 0.03 N HCI. Streptothricins F and E, as well as an unidentified component C1, have been isolated and their comparative biological activities determined. Streptothricins F and E were comparable in taeniacidal activity in mice infected with Hymenolepis nana ia feeding either one at 0.05% in the diet removed 92 approximately 100% of the adult tapeworms. The unidentified component C1 was inactive at the levels tested. In contrast, component C1 was the most active in antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and in inhibiting the urease activity of proteus mirabilis. In the former test, the ratios of activity were; 1:7:30 for F:E:C1 and in the latter; 1:2:4 for F:E:C1.