Antibiotic strains

It is tempting to speculate if metabolic shifts and shifts in the physiological state of the culture can be more precisely monitored with the electronic nose. Physiologically important odorant metabolites in antibiotic strains such as geosmin and oxolone have been analyzed with conventional methods in the fermentation off-gas [38]. Recently, responses from electronic noses have been possible to relate to plasmid copy number [39]. Other types of intracellular shifts, such as viral infection, inclusion body formation or increase in mRNA level, could challenge the capacity of electronic noses. 

Pneumogstis carini pneumonia (PCP), the most common of the opportunistic infections, occurs in more than 80% of AIDS patients (13). Toxoplasmosis, a proto2oan infection of the central nervous system, is activated in AIDS patients when the 004 count drops and severe impairment of ceU-mediated immunity occurs. Typically, patients have a mass lesion(s) in the brain. These mass lesions usually respond well to therapy and can disappear completely. Fungal infections, such as CTyptococcalmeningitis, are extremely common in AIDS patients, and Histop/asma capsulatum appears when ceU-mediated immunity has been destroyed by the HIV vims, leading to widespread infection of the lungs, Hver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow. AIDS patients are particularly susceptible to bacteremia caused by nontyphoidal strains of Salmonella. Bacteremia may be cleared by using antibiotic therapy. 

To obtain reproducible antibiotic production by fermentation, it is necessary to obtain a pure culture of the producing organism. Pure cultures are isolated from mixed soil sample populations by various streaking and isolation techniques on nutrient media. Once a pure culture has been found that produces a new antibiotic typically on a mg/L scale, improvement in antibiotic yield is accompHshed by modification of the fermentation medium or strain selection and mutation of the producing organism. Production of g/L quantities may take years to accomplish. 

Preventive medicine through vaccination continues to be the most cost-effective pubHc health practice, even with the drastic advance in modern medicine. Mass vaccination programs have eradicated smallpox from the earth. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a major campaign underway to eradicate poHo by the year 2000. The development of vaccines has saved millions of Hves and prevented many more from suffering. However, there are stiU many diseases without effective vaccines, such as malaria. With the recent emergence of antibiotic-resistance strains and exotic vimses, an effective vaccine development program becomes a top priority of pubHc health poHcy. 

Gonorrhea. Gonorrhea, caused by Neisseriagonorrheae is the most commonly reported communicable disease in the United States. Approximately lO cases were reported to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in 1979, but actual cases could be two to three times higher (99,100). In addition, an increasing number of strains are becoming resistant to penicillin, the antibiotic that is usually used to treat this disease. 

C QHyN O SNa, as a potentially useful P-lactamase inhibitor capable of potentiating the activity of a number of clinically important P-lactam antibiotics against resistant strains (153). 

In 1945 it was noted that a strain of Cephalosporium acremonium i oAu ced antibiotic material that was active against gram-negative as weU as gram-positive... 

Bacteria produce chromosomady and R-plasmid (resistance factor) mediated P-lactamases. The plasmid-mediated enzymes can cross interspecific and intergeneric boundaries. This transfer of resistance via plasmid transfer between strains and even species has enhanced the problems of P-lactam antibiotic resistance. Many species previously controded by P-lactam antibiotics are now resistant. The chromosomal P-lactamases are species specific, but can be broadly classified by substrate profile, sensitivity to inhibitors, analytical isoelectric focusing, immunological studies, and molecular weight deterrnination. Individual enzymes may inactivate primarily penicillins, cephalosporins, or both, and the substrate specificity predeterrnines the antibiotic resistance of the producing strain. Some P-lactamases are produced only in the presence of the P-lactam antibiotic (inducible) and others are produced continuously (constitutive). 

The P-lactam antibiotics ate produced by secondary metaboHc reactions that differ from those responsible for the growth and reproduction of the microorganism. In order to enhance antibiotic synthesis, nutrients must be diverted from the primary pathways to the antibiotic biosynthetic sequences. Although most media for the production of penicillins and cephalosporins are similar, they ate individually designed for the specific requkements of the high yielding strains and the fermentation equipment used. 

Resistance to Lincomycin. Resistance to lincomycin is developed slowly, and is usually caused by modification of 23S ribosomal RNA, which leads to co-resistance to macroHde, lincosaminide, and streptogramin B antibiotics (25). Inactivation of lincomycin by clinical isolates of strains of Staphjlococcus aureus and Staphjlococcus haemoljticus, though retention of sensitivity to macroHdes (see Antibiotics, macrolides) and streptogramins (see Antibiotics, peptides), has been found to be the consequence of the conversion of the antibiotic into its 3-(5 -adenylate) (26). 

Antibiotic Bu-2545, 7-0-methyl-4 -depropyIlincomycin [75007-09-9] (1, R = OCH3, R = H but lacking the 4 -propyl group), C23H3QN2O3S, produced by Streptomjces strain No. H 230-5, possesses stmctural features in common with both celesticetin and lincomycin (46,47). 

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