Subinhibitory Concentrations of Antibiotics Induce Phenazine Production in a Marine Streptomyces sp

• Published in: Journal of natural products (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2008-05, Vol.71 (5), p.824-827
• Main Authors: Mitova, Maya I., Lang, Gerhard, Wiese, Jutta, Imhoff, Johannes F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibacterial properties; antibiotics; Antibiotics (antibacterial agents, antifungal agents); Antibiotics, microbial producers, chemotherapic agents, antiseptics, disinfecting agents; Applied microbiology; Bacillus subtilis - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Candida glabrata - drug effects; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Halichondria panicea; Marine Biology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; phenazines; Phenazines - chemistry; Phenazines - isolation & purification; Phenazines - metabolism; Staphylococcus - drug effects; Streptomyces; Streptomyces - chemistry; streptophenazine
• ISSN: 0163-3864; 1520-6025
• DOI: 10.1021/np800032a

Subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics were found to enhance and modulate the production of new phenazines, streptophenazines A−H, in a marine Streptomyces isolate. The streptophenazines differ in length and substitution of an alkyl chain. The pattern of metabolites formed depends on the antibiotic used. In the presence of tetracycline, streptophenazines F and G were induced and the production of streptophenazines A−D was increased. When using bacitracin, mainly streptophenazine H was produced. Streptophenazines C and H showed moderate activity against Bacillus subtilis, while streptophenazine C was also active against Staphylococcus lentus.