In vitro antimicrobial activity of the new antibiotic vermisporin.
The antimicrobial activity of vermisporin, a new antibiotic produced by fermentation of the fungus Ophiobolus vermisporis, was tested in vitro. Vermisporin inhibited 90% of Bacteroides fragilis and other Bacteroides spp. at 1 microgram/ml (range 0.25-1 micrograms/ml). Clostridium perfringens were inhibited by 1 microgram/ml (range 0.25-2 micrograms/ml). Vermisporin inhibited 90% of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, at 0.5 micrograms/ml (range 0.12-0.5 micrograms/ml). Vermisporin MICs for group A, B, C, F and G streptococci were < 1 microgram/ml when tested in Haemophilus Test Medium but > or = 8 micrograms/ml in the presence of blood. Vermisporin MICs for Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae exceeded 64 micrograms/ml. Inhibited organisms had MBCs 16- to 32-fold above the MICs.
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Department of Medicine, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032.
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D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000494:pharmacology
D000470:Alkaloids; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011760:Pyrrolidinones; C078226:vermisporin