Albert Kelner

An Antibiotic (Anii-Smegmatis Factor) Produced by an Actinomycete, Specifically Inhibiting Species of Mycobacterium.

Summary An actinomycete (A-82) forms an antibiotic which when tested against more than 60 species, including more than 20 genera of bacteria inhibited only M. smegmatis, M. phlei, and a nonpathogenic, rapidly growing strain of M. tuberculosis, variety hominis No. 607. A pathogenic M. tuberculosis, variety bovis, was not inhibited. The specificity of this antibiotic, referred to as the antismegmatis factor (because of the sensitivity of Mycobacterium smegmatis), for the genus Mycobacterium is discussed. Methods for producing the crude anti-smegmatis factor are outlined. The antibiotic is thermostable, and is more active in alkaline media than in acid media, No chemical purification of the antismegmatis factor was done.