GB714427A - New antibiotics and methods of preparation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A new antibiotic "comirin" is produced by growing the micro organism Bacterium antimyceticum n. sp. in the presence of oxygen in a medium containing organic and/or inorganic nitrogen, and extracting "comirin" from the culture. Aerobic conditions and a medium also containing carbohydrate, e.g. one or more mono- or di-saccharides such as glucose or saccharose is necessary for good yields. A preferred medium contains 0.5 per cent peptone and 0.5 per cent saccharose; the pH is adjusted to 6.2 and cultivation is as 22-30 DEG C., especially 22-28 DEG C. Inorganic nitrogen sources are ammonium phosphate and ammonium citrate. Comirin is isolated by extracting the culture twice with n-butanol with stirring 3 hours. The butanol extracts are centrifuged and then saturated with 5 per cent sodium chloride. The saline layer contains the comirin which is centrifuged out, washed with aqueous sodium chloride and extracted in 50 per cent aqueous pyridine. Amyl acetate is added to precipitate the comirin which is washed with acetone. Further purification is obtained by repeating the aqueous pyridine treatment, dissolving the so-purified comirin in glacial acetic acid and adding ether. Comirin is a peptide containing 12 per cent nitrogen, it is precipitated by protein precipitants and yields amino acids such as glycine and serine on acid hydrolysis; it is active against many specified fungi and yeasts; it is strongly haemolytic; stable to heat and acid, unstable to alkali; considered to have strong surface-active and colloidal properties; soluble in aqueous-organic solvent and aqueous salt mixtures including aqueous "Tween 80" (Registered Trade Mark); in ethylamines and in formic, acetic and propionic acids; insoluble in anhydrous alcohols, acetone, dioxane, ether, ethyl acetate, amyl acetate, chloroform, benzene and light petroleum; it is dialysable through "Cellophane" (Registered Trade Mark) from aqueous pyridine solution; RF values given. Comirin may be used as a fungicide for general use or as an ointment for therapeutic use (see Group VI).ALSO:An antibiotic "comirin" produced by growing the micro-organism Bacterium Antimyceticum n.sp. in a suitable medium (see Group IV(b)) is a fungicide for general or medicinal use. Aqueous sprays may be used for general use and ointments for medicinal use. An example is given of an ointment containing 4 per cent water agar, liquid paraffin and an aqueous solution of comirin containing 5 per cent of the polyoxyethylene derivative of sorbitan mono-oleate "Tween 80" (R.T.M.).