CEPACIDINE-A, A NOVEL ANTIFUNGAL ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCED BY PSEUDOMONAS-CEPACIA .1. TAXONOMY, PRODUCTION, ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL-ACTIVITY

Cepacidine A is a potent antifungal antibiotic produced by Pseudomonas cepacia AF 2001. The compound was isolated from the fermentation brot h with 1 vol isopropyl alcohol, followed by the collection of the prec ipitation formed upon concentration of the extract. Purification was e ffected by chromatography on Diaion HP-20, alumina and reversed phase C-18 followed by TLC on silica gel. These techniques afforded the two closely related compounds, cepacidine A(1) and cepacidine A(2). A mixt ure of these two compounds called cepacidine A, showed high in vitro a ntifungal activity against the various animal and plant pathogenic fun gi. The activity was diminished by the presence of serum. No antibacte rial activity was demonstrable.