MERSACIDIN, A NEW ANTIBIOTIC FROM BACILLUS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

• Published in: Journal of antibiotics Vol. 45; no. 6; pp. 839 - 845
• Main Authors: CHATTERJEE, SUKUMAR, CHATTERJEE, DIPAK KUMAR, JANI, RAJENDRA H., BLUMBACH, J., GANGULI, B. N., KLESEL, NORBERT, LIMBERT, MICHAEL, SEIBERT, GERHARD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo JAPAN ANTIBIOTICS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 1992; Japan Antibiotics Research Association
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Bacillus; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacteriocins; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Male; Medical sciences; Methicillin Resistance; Mice; Peptides - pharmacology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Staphylococcus - drug effects; Streptococcus pyogenes - drug effects; Microorganism growth; Erythromycin; In vitro; Infection; Antibiotic; Chemotherapy; Experimental disease; Sensitivity resistance; Treatment; Gram positive bacteria; Animal; Bacteriosis; Microorganism culture; Potassium
• ISSN: 0021-8820; 1881-1469
• DOI: 10.7164/antibiotics.45.839

Mersacidin is a new peptide antibiotic of the proposed lantibiotic family. It is active in vitro and in vivo against Gram-positive bacteria including the methicillin-resistant Staphylococci. Its in vitro activity is less than those of vancomycin and erythromycin but it shows much higher activity in the in vivo system than can be expected from the in vitro testing results. A water soluble potassium salt has been prepared which has an activity profile similar to that of mersacidin, but has better in vivo activity against Streptococcus pyogenes than the parent compound.