INHIBITION OF CHITIN METABOLISM BY AVERMECTIN IN SUSCEPTIBLE ORGANISMS

Avermectin inhibits Mucor miehei and Artemia salina chitin synthesis and to a degree DNA synthesis in the former. The antibiotic interferes with chitin turnover in brine shrimp and inhibits Streptomyces antibioticus chitinase activity in vitro. In light of the proposed mode of action of avermectin a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of antibiotics 1984, Vol.37(3), pp.253-259
Main Authors: CALCOTT, PETER H., FATIG, RAYMOND O., III
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Artemia - drug effects
Artemia - metabolism
Bacteria - drug effects
Biological and medical sciences
Chitin - biosynthesis
Chitin - metabolism
Chitinases - antagonists & inhibitors
Fungi - drug effects
Ivermectin - analogs & derivatives
Lactones - pharmacology
Medical sciences
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Miscellaneous. Antibiotics with multiple activities
Mucor - drug effects
Mucor - metabolism
Mucor miehei
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Streptomyces - enzymology
Streptomyces antibioticus
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Summary:Avermectin inhibits Mucor miehei and Artemia salina chitin synthesis and to a degree DNA synthesis in the former. The antibiotic interferes with chitin turnover in brine shrimp and inhibits Streptomyces antibioticus chitinase activity in vitro. In light of the proposed mode of action of avermectin and the anomolies in the literature, it is proposed that avermectin can kill susceptible organisms not only by a neurotoxic mechanism but also by inhibiting chitin turnover and synthesis at low concentration and thus the molting/ecdysis process.
ISSN:0021-8820
1881-1469
DOI:10.7164/antibiotics.37.253