N-demethylvancomycin, a novel antibiotic produced by a strain of Nocardia orientalis. Taxonomy and fermentation.

A novel vancomycin analog, N-demethylvancomycin, is produced by a soil isolate collected in Yucatan, Mexico. Taxonomic studies indicated this microorganism, designated NRRL 15232, is a strain of Nocardia orientalis. Unlike some glycopeptide antibiotics, virtually none of the N-demethylvancomycin synthesized remained bound to the cells of the producing culture. Antibiotic production was markedly depressed by the addition of orthophosphate to the fermentation medium. Enrichment of the medium with tyrosine, p-hydroxyphenylglycine, p-hydroxyphenylglyoxylic acid, or leucine, all putative precursors of the aglycone, stimulated the biosynthesis of N-demethylvancomycin.

New azasteroidal antifungal antibotics from Geotrichum flavo-brunneum. I. Discovery and fermentation studies.

Although Geotrichum species occur ubiquitously, antibiotic production by members of this genus has not previously been reported. The antibiotic complex designated A25822, consisting of one major and six minor structurally-related components active primarily against Candida and Trichophyton, represents a new family of naturally-occurring compounds. Approximately 90% of the antibiotic activity synthesized remained associated with the fungal cell mass, from which it was recovered by multiple methanolic extractions for quantitation. Antibiotic production was enhanced by tryptophan, iron, zinc, and high levels of dextrin.