ISSN:
1573-5176
Keywords:
algae
;
antibiotics
;
methicillin resistance
;
fatty acids
;
linolenic acid
;
phytoplankton
;
Chlorococcum
;
Dunaliella primolecta
;
Staphylococcus aureus
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract Methanol extracts fromChlorococcum strain HS-101 andDunaliella primolecta strongly inhibited the growth of a strain of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is causing serious problems in Japanese hospitals. So that the anti-MRSA substance(s) could be purified and identified, the growth medium was improved for antibiotic production. When the two strains were cultured in their improved media, antibiotic production byChlorococcum strain HS-101 was 1.8-fold that in the standard BG-11 medium, and production byD. primolecta was 2.3-fold. The activity pattern of fractions eluted by silica-gel or gel-permeation chromatography suggested that both strains produced two antibiotic substances. Identification of the purified substances by NMR and GC-MS showed that one of the active substances in both strains wasα-linolenic acid. Ten fatty acids from other sources were tested, and it was found that unsaturated fatty acids had antibiotic activity against MRSA, with the highest activity that of γ-linolenic acid.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00693057
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