STUDIES OF THE PRODUCTION OF NEIHUMICIN BY MICROMONOSPORA-NEIHUENSIS WU

Strain NH3-1 of Micromonospora neihuenis Wu produces a new antibiotic, named Neihumicin. Previous studies (Wu et al., 1988) showed its cytot oxic effects in vitro against KB tissue culture cells as well as its a ntifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 9763. The opt imum conditions for cell growth and antibiotic production from strain NH3-1 were studied by formulating media for spore, seed, and antibioti c production cultures. On agar plates, the best colony growth and spor ulation occurred on tryptone yeast glucose medium. In liquid cultures, the mycelia grew well in enriched media including yeast extract, malt extract (ISP-2), tomato paste oatmeal (TPO), peptone-potato glycerol (PPG), tryptone yeast glucose (TYG), and oatmeal (ISP-3) media. The en riched media also supported good antibiotic production. A temperature of 25-degrees-C, agitation at 200 rpm, and supplementation with vitami ns B-12 and C were found to provide optimal conditions.