Paracelsin, a peptide antibiotic containing alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, isolated from Trichoderma reesei Simmons. Part A

A peptide antibiotic has been isolated from Trichoderma reesei QM 9414. Although crystalline and uniform in TLC, this antibiotic could be resolved by HPLC into 3 sequence analogues. The close relationship to alamethicin was proved by chemical and spectroscopic methods, and the formation of ion-conducting pores in lipid bilayers.     

A p-menthane derivative isolated from culture filtrates ofFusicoccum amygdali,Del.

Summary From culture filtrates ofFusicoccum amygdali, Del., a new compound, whose structure corresponds to 1,2,3-trihydroxy-p-menthane, has been isolated. Its discovery is of some interest since, to our knowledge, it is the first time that a monoterpenoid is isolated from a microorganism.     

Denitrifying bacteria of genus Alcaligenes isolated from soil]

The organism isolated is a small non-sporulating Gram-negative rod, motile by means of peritrichous flagellae. It is an oxidase-positive chemo-organotroph utilizing O2,NO-3,NO-2 and N2O as resiratory substrates. Primary alcohols as well as numerous organic and amino acids are utilized as carbon and energy sources. Carbohydrates are not assimilated. Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate is accumulated intracellularly. The bacterium is assigned to the genus Alcaligenes and its phenotype characteristics are compared with those of A. faecalis.     

Nosiheptide,a sulfur-containing peptide antibiotic isolated fromStreptomyces actuosus 40037

Summary Nosiheptide (9671 R.P.) isolated fromStreptomyces actuosus 40037 (NRRL 2954) is a sulfur-containing polypeptidic antibiotic, quite different from all the other members of this family. Very active in vitro against gram-positive bacteria, it is inactive in vivo in experimentally infected mice. Not toxic, even at high dose, it may be used as a feed additive for chickens and pigs and it shows a favourable effect on the growth and conversion index.     

Isolation ofAeromonas spp. from human feces

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences -     

A novel antagonist of serotonergic receptors,hymenidin, isolated from the Okinawan marine spongeHymeniacidon sp.

Summary A novel bromine-containing pyrrole compound, hymenidin, has been isolated from the Okinawan marine spongeHymeniacidon sp. as a potent antagonist of serotonergic receptors and its structure elucidated using spectral data.     

A cumulating metabolite derived from a piperazine-substituted phenothiazine drug

Zusammenfassung Wiederholte orale Gabe des Neuroleptikums Perazin (Taxilan^®) führt bei der Ratte zur Kumulation eines Metaboliten mit teilweise abgebautem Piperazinring, N-[-Phenothiazinyl-(10)-propyl]-äthylendiamin. Seine Konstitution wurde durch NMR- und Massenspektroskopie sowie durch Synthese geklärt. Als weiteres Abbauprodukt wurde -[Phenothiazinyl-(10)]-propylamin identifiziert.     

Desacetylscalaradial,a cytotoxic metabolite from the spongeCacospongia scalaris

Summary From the marine spongeCacospongia scalaris, scalaradial1, desacetylscalaradial2, and heteronemin3 were isolated. Compound2 showed potent cell growth inhibition. The stereochemistry of3 is briefly discussed.Acknowledgments. The authors are grateful to Prof. T. Hase and Mr R. Nakai for collecting the sponge and to Dr s. Tanida for the sponge identification.     

The generation of toxic activity from trypanosoma congolense.

Trypanosoma congolense organism, on incubation at 20 degrees C for 91/2h, were found to generate phospholipase like activity which was capable of mediating lysis of both nucleated cells and erythrocytes as well as acute inflammatory response on intradermal inoculation.     

A new histamine metabolite,quantitatively important in chicken

Summary After i.v. injection of¹⁴C-histamine to chicken, we identified one of the histamine metabolites as N-acetylmethylhistamine in the urine. This new metabolite accounted for about 20% of the urinary or 14% of the administered radioactivity.This work was supported by the Agricultural Research Council of Norway (grant No. 14.202.01).Acknowledgment. I wish to thank J. Utne Skåre who performed all the mass-spectrographic work and A. Grande for making the colon fistula.     

A new glandular organ in some toxic caterpillars.

The nodes formed by the mid-ventral tracheal anastomoses in abdominal segments 3-6 are modified into conspicuous glandular organs in larvae of certain Lepidoptera. They comprise clusters of extremely large cells penetrated by an extensive lacunar system opening onto the tracheal wall. These cells appear to sequester substances from the haemolymph which may be conjugated with a lipoid synthesized within them and the product excreted into the lacunar system, ultimately passing into the tracheal lumen.