Tyrissamycin antibiotic

Abstract

A novel tyrosyl diester antibiotic is obtained from fermentation of a recombinant strain of Streptomyces lividans designated Stretomyces lividans WD 15684 (ATCC-202143). The new antibiotic, designated tyrissamycin, exhibits antibacterial activity, particularly against gram-positive bacteria.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for the preparation of tyrissamycin having the following characteristics: 
 (a) a white amorphous powder;    (b) soluble in chloroform, dimethylsulfoxide and methanol, and essentially insoluble in water:    (c) exhibits an ultraviolet absorption spectrum when dissolved in methanol substantially as shown in FIG. 1;    (d) exhibits an infrared absorption spectrum (KBr) substantially as shown in FIG. 2;    (e) exhibits a proton magnetic resonance spectrum in CH 3 OD substantially as shown in FIG. 3; and    (f) exhibits a  13 C magnetic resonance spectrum in CH 3 OD substantially as shown in FIG. 4 which comprises cultivating a tyrissamycin-producing strain of  Streptomyces lividans  under submerged aerobic conditions in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen until a substantial amount of tyrissamycin is produced by said organism in said culture medium.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  which includes the step of isolating tyrissamycin from the medium in substantially purified form.  
     
     
         3 . A biologically pure culture of  Streptomyces lividans  ATCC-202143, said culture being capable of producing the compound tyrissamycin as defined in  claim 1  in a recoverable quantity upon submerged aerobic cultivation in an aqueous nutrient medium containing assimilable sources of carbon and nitrogen.