Streptomyces griseus and the rest of the Streptomyces genus together produce over half of the world's antibiotics.  Because of this, they are invaluable in the medical field.  Streptomycin produce a

wide spectrum of antibiotics as well as antifungals.  They also produce other bioactive compounds like immunosuppresents, which prevent immune system activity.  Here are a few of the various antibiotics and antifungals that they help synthesize...

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ANTIBIOTICS

Streptomycin is the antibiotic synthesized by Streptomyces Griseus. It was first discovered in 1943 by Selman Waksman, Albert Schatz, and Elizabeth Bugie, all american biochemists.  The drug works by interfering with a microorganisms ability to synthesize certain vital proteins. It is an inhibits growth, rather than killing the infectious agent.  Because it was effective against so many diseases, it was used frequently and resulted in the resistance of many of the bacteria, including the one that causes TUBERCULOSIS.  Streptomycin can be used with penecillin to treat different heart valve infections.  And with tetracyclines, Streptomycin treats the plague, tularemia, and brucellosis.

Here are a few pictures of Streptomycin, the first one being a skeletal 2-D image and the second what the antibiotic looks like if you were to purchase it at a pharmacy.

             (copied from wikipedia and images.asia.ru)

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Tetracycline is an antibiotic developed from Streptomyces rimosus.  Its purpose is the same of Streptomycin.  However, it is only effective against multiplying organisms.  It is used to treat cholera, trachoma (an infection of the eye transmitted by some species of birds), tularemia, and brucellosis.  Some various forms of Tetracycline have been used to treat acne.  Bacteria have also become resistant to it from over use and so the use of this antibiotic has been called into question.

Here are a couple pictures of Tetracycline.  The first is a skeletal, 2-D image of Tetracycline.  The second is a produced antibiotic; the Tetracyline you would find at a drug store

(copied from Wikipedia and revolutionhealth.com)

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Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic which treats infections caused by different kinds of gram-positive bacteria.  Vancomycin was first discoverin in a soil sample in Borneo  It treats different life threatening infections, and can have some dangerous side effects if not taken properly.  One of the effects of taking Vancomycin to rapidly or in too large a dose is Red-man syndrom.  Red-syndrome causes an inflation and reddening of the skin on the face, neck, and upper extremities.  This is what it looks like...

(copied from colorproject.com)

just kidding...but seriously, Red-man syndrome is serious.

Chloramphenicol is an antimicrobial derived from Streptomyces venezuelae.  It is the first antibiotic ever to be manufactured on a large scale.  It is a very cheap drug, which makes it popular in poor countries.  It is a life saving cure for chytridoiomycosis, a disease in amphibians which has made extinct 120 different frog species in 1980.  It also works against meningitis and Streptococcus pnemoniae, which is a cause of pnemoniae.  However, it can cause bone marrow shutdown, which is dangerous because bone marrow produces blood cells for the body.

Here are a few pictures of Chloraphenicol.  The first is another 2-D skeletal image, the second a 3-d image, and the third an actual antibiotic that would be found at a pharmacy.

(copied from Wikipedia, Wikipedia, and appdrugs.com )

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ANTIFUNGALS

Nystatin is a polyne antifungal drug, which treats oral and gastointestinal fungal infections.  It is also used to prevent the spread of mold on works of art.

Here are a couple pictures. Again the first is a skeletal image and the second is a produced drug.

(copied from Wikipedia and Walgreens.com)

Natamycin is an antifungal used as a preservative to stop mold growth on foods, such as cheese.  Many large food manufacturing companies will put Natamycin in the form of powder on their various food products.

(copied from Wikipedia and 21food.com)

Created by Chuck

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