Antibiotics production by an actinomycete isolated from the termite gut.

Feb 2012

Matsui T, Tanaka J, Namihira T, Shinzato N.

Source

Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa, Japan. tmatsui@comb.u-ryukyu.ac.jp.

Abstract

As well as the search for new antibiotics, a new resource or strains for the known antibiotics is also important. Microbial symbionts in the gut of termites could be regarded as one of the feasible resource for such purpose. In this study, antibiotic-producing actinomycetes were screened from symbionts of the termite gut. 16SrRNA sequence analysis for the 10 isolates revealed that they belong to actinomycetes such as Streptomyces sp., Kitasatospora sp., and Mycobacterium sp. A culture broth from one of the isolate, namely strain CA1, belonging to the genera Streptomyces exhibited antagonistic activity against actinomycetes (Micrococcus spp.), gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus spp.), and yeast (Candida spp.). The structures of 2 compounds isolated from the culture broth of the strain CA1 were identified as those of actinomycin X2 and its analog, D. This study is the first to report that some symbionts of the termite gut are antibiotic-producing actinomycetes, and suggest that the termite gut is a feasible resource for bioprospecting.

Wiley OnLine

Aerosol antibiotic therapy in children with chronic upper airway infections: a potential alternative to surgery

Aerosol antibiotic therapy in children with chronic upper airway infections: a potential alternative to surgery

Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2009 April-June

Macchi A, Castelnuovo P.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology University of Insubria, Varese, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy.

Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy remain the first choice treatment of chronic or recurrent acute infections of the upper respiratory tract in children. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of the combination of thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate plus beclomethasone, administered as aerosol, in children awaiting tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy. The study comprised 204 children, aged 1 to 12 years, with chronic adenotonsillitis who had been listed for surgery due to obstructive symptoms and recurrent acute infections. Patients were randomized to treatment with thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate, dosage 250 mg/day in 2 administrations plus beclomethasone with a dosage of 400 μg/day in 2 administrations, or no treatment, control group, unless required. The drugs were administered by aerosol for 10 days/month over a period of 6 months. Clinical visits were at 4, 7 and 12 months after the start of treatment. The primary efficacy outcome was the reduction in the number of patients requiring surgery. Secondary efficacy measures were the reduction of nasal obstruction, the decrease in the number of infectious episodes and the tolerability of the treatment. Aerosol treatment with thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate plus beclomethasone resulted in a significantly lower proportion of patients requiring surgery (29 of 101; 29 percent) compared to patients in the control group (100 of 103; 97 percent) (p < 0.0001). Treatment was also associated with a reduction of nasal obstruction and a decrease in the number of infectious episodes. No treatment-related adverse events were reported and the aerosol therapy proved easy to administer to children. The aerosol therapy with the combination of thiamphenicol glycinate acetylcysteinate plus beclomethasone was able to prevent or postpone surgery in a substantial percentage of patients, without adverse events. These preliminary results suggest that this novel approach could play a role in the antibiotic prophylaxis of chronic infectious diseases of the upper airways.

PubMed