Anthracimycin, a potent anthrax antibiotic from a marine-derived actinomycete

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2013 Jul 22;52(30):7822-4. doi: 10.1002/anie.201302749. Epub 2013 Jun 17.

Abstract

Licensed to kill: A new antibiotic, anthracimycin (see scheme), produced by a marine-derived actinomycete in saline culture, shows significant activity toward Bacillus anthracis, the bacterial pathogen responsible for anthrax infections. Chlorination of anthracimycin gives a dichloro derivative that retains activity against Gram-positive bacteria, such as anthrax, but also shows activity against selected Gram-negative bacteria.

Keywords: anthrax; antibiotics; bacillus anthracis; natural products; polyketides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actinobacteria*
  • Anthrax / drug therapy*
  • Anthrax / microbiology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / drug effects*
  • Geologic Sediments / chemistry
  • Geologic Sediments / microbiology*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polyketides / chemistry
  • Polyketides / pharmacology*
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Polyketides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • anthracimycin