Amycolatopsis Orientalis Research Articles

ChemInform Abstract: M43 Antibiotics: Methylated Vancomycins and Unrearranged CDP‐I Analogues.

AbstractFrom the filtered broth of culture Amycolatopsis orientalis M43‐05865 the M43 complex is obtained and some individual M43 factors are isolated.

UK-69,753, a novel member of the efrotomycin family of antibiotics. I. Taxonomy of the producing organism, fermentation and isolation.

UK-69,753 is a novel antibiotic structurally related to efrotomycin and factumycin, produced by a new strain of Amycolatopsis orientalis (ATCC 53550). The antibiotic potency in the fermentation broth was monitored by HPLC with diode array detection. A six tube counter current distribution was used to purify UK-69,753.

Efficient transformation of Amycolatopsis orientalis (Nocardia orientalis) protoplasts by Streptomyces plasmids.

Conditions for efficient transformation of Amycolatopsis orientalis (Nocardia orientalis) protoplasts by Streptomyces plasmid cloning vectors were identified. Three streptomycete plasmid origins of replication function in A. orientalis, as do the apramycin resistance gene from Escherichia coli, the thiostrepton resistance gene from Streptomyces azureus, and the tyrosinase gene from Streptomyces antibioticus. A. orientalis appears to express some restriction and modification, because highest transformation frequencies (10(6)/micrograms of DNA) were obtained when plasmid pIJ702 was modified by passage in A. orientalis.

Spore germination and viability of a vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae

Methods for producing axenic spores of the VA mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae are described. The spores did not readily germinate on agar but the soil actinomycete Streptomyces orientalis stimulated germination. Spores stored in moist atmosphere at 4° can remain viable for 4 years; under dry conditions, the death of spores seemed to be directly related to water activity.

Two New Genera of Nocardioform Actinomycetes: Amycolata gen. nov. and Amycolatopsis gen. nov.

We propose two new genera, Amycolata and Amycolatopsis, to accommodate nocardioform actinomycetes having type IV cell wall composition and lacking mycolic acids. These two genera are distinguished from each other by phospholipid and menaquinone composition and phage sensitivity. The following species were assigned to the genus Amycolata: Amycolata autotrophica comb. nov. (type strain, strain ATCC 19727), Amycolata saturnea comb. nov. (type strain, strain NRRL B16172), and Amycolata hydrocarbonoxydans comb. nov. (type strain, strain NRRL B16171). The genus Amycolatopsis includes Amycolatopsis orientalis comb. nov. (type strain, strain ATCC 19795), Amycolatopsis orientalis subsp. lurida nom. rev., comb. nov., subsp. nov. (type strain, strain NRRL 2430), Amycolatopsis mediterranei comb. nov. (type strain, strain ATCC 13685), Amycolatopsis rugosa sp. nov. (type strain, strain ATCC 43014), and Amycolatopsis sulphurea sp. nov. (type strain, strain ATCC 27624).

Vancomycin use--an historical review.

In the early 1950s the increase of antibiotic-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus in hospitalized patients with infection stimulated a screening program to develop an effective new agent. A soil sample found in the jungles of Borneo contained a microorganism, Streptomyces orientalis, that produced a substance later called vancomycin. Vancomycin was shown to have antistaphylococcal activity and to be relatively safe when administered to patients. With the resurgence of staphylococcal infections resistant to the newer antistaphylococcal antibiotics, there has been a corresponding increase in the use of vancomycin. Vancomycin is also being used for prophylaxis in patients with reduced renal function undergoing dialysis, for the treatment of patients with antibiotic-induced enterocolitis, and in combination with other antibiotics for 'sterilization' of the intestinal tract in patients with cancer.

Investigation of the structure of Rhizopus cell wall with lytic enzymes.

The components and structure of the cell wall of Rhizopus delemar were investigated using purified lytic enzymes, protease and chitosanase from Bacillus R-4 and chitinase II from Streptomyces orientalis. When these enzymes were used individually they only partially lysed the cell wall, but when allowed to react on the cell wall together, a complete lysis was achieved by cooperative action. These modes of action on the cell wall and the chemical and morphological data suggested that the cell wall structure was different in Rhizopus delemar of Zygomycetes from filamentous fungi of Euascomycetes and that its wall structure might be composed mainly of chitin fibers cemented by chitosan and protein or peptides scattered in a mosaic manner.

Purifications and Some Properties of Two Chitinases fromStreptomyces orientalisWhich LyseRhizopusCell Wall

Streptomyces orientalis was selected as a microorganism which produced chitinase having lytic activity on Rhizopus cell wall.Two chitinases (chitinase I and II) which had very similar properties were purified to an ultracentrifugally homogeneous state from the culture broth of this organism by SP-Sephadex and Sephadex G–100 chromatographies.Molecular weights of chitinase I and II were estimated as about 33,000 and 25,000, and isoelectric points as pH 8.80 and 8.65, respectively. Both chitinases were most active at pH values between 5.5 and 6.5, and were stable in the range of pH 6.0 to 8.0 at 40°C for 3 hr. They were stable at temperatures below 50°C for 15 min. Rhizopus cell wall was almost completely degraded by a cooperative action of these chitinases, and a protease and a chitosanase from Bacillus R–4.

Studies on lytic enzyme on fungal cell wall. V. Purifications and some properties of two chitinases from Streptomyces orientalis which lyse Rhizopus cell wall.

Streptomyces orientalis was selected as a microorganism which produced chitinase having lytic activity on Rhizopus cell wall. Two chitinases (chitinase I and II) which had very similar properties were purified to an ultracentrifugally homogeneous state from the culture broth of this organism by SP-Sephadex and Sephadex G-100 chromatographies. Molecular weights of chitinase I and II were estimated as about 33, 000 and 25, 000, and isoelectric points as pH 8.80 and 8.65, respectively. Both chitinases were most active at pH values between 5.5 and 6.5, and were stable in the range of pH 6.0 to 8.0 at 40°C for 3 hr. They were stable at temperatures below 50°C for 15min. Rhizopus cell wall was almost completely degraded by a cooperative action of these chitinases, and a protease and a chitosanase from Bacillus R-4.

Vancomycin in Serious Staphylococcal Infections

Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant staphylococci continue to be a serious problem and to present a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Here we shall not review the voluminous literature that has accumulated on this problem during the last decade. Rather, we shall summarize our experiences with vancomycin * therapy of serious staphylococcal infections. Characteristics of Drug Vancomycin is relatively new and is derived from a new species, Streptomyces orientalis. 1,2 It is available as the hydrochloride and is unrelated chemically to any other antibiotic. The molecule is relatively large (weight ±3,300). The drug is bactericidal for staphylococci that are multiplying. It inhibits synthesis of ribonucleic acid in the staphylococcus but causes little or no change in the rate at which protein or desoxyribonucleic acid is synthesized. 3 Vancomycin, a predominantly antistaphylococcal agent, inhibits and kills both penicillin G-sensitive and penicillin G-resistant organisms when it is given in small amounts. For several hundred