Bacterium Streptomyces antibioticus

An interesting example of the power of C NMR spectroscopy to solve a biosynthesis problem is found in the study of virginae butanolide A (VBA) (Figure 5.10 a)), one of a series of similar signalling compounds produced by the bacterium Streptomyces antibioticus (S. Sakuda and Y. Yamada, Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry, Vol. I, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1999, p. 139). First the culture conditions for the Streptomyces to produce a good yield of VBA had to be studied, then... 

Most interesting was the finding that this antiviral antibiotic (1-23) is in fact produced by a bacterium called Streptomyces antibioticus. This allows the production by fermentation of large quantities of this active principle. 

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