Abstract:
Novel antibiotic U-59,761 producible in a fermentation under controlled conditions using a biologically pure culture of the microorganism Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strain 367, NRRL 12045. This antibiotic is active against various microorganisms, for example, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Sarcina lutea, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mycobacterium avium, and Bacteroides fragilis. Thus, antibiotic U-59,761 can be used in various environments to eradicate or control such bacteria.

Description:
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Antibiotic U-59,761 is producible in a fermentation under controlled conditions using a biologically pure culture of the new microorganism Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strain 367, NRRL 12045. 
     Antibiotic U-59,761 is active against various bacteria. Thus, this antibiotic can be used to disinfect washed and stacked food utensils contaminated with S. aureus. Since antibiotic U-59,761 is active against Mycobacterium avium, it can be used in birds and rabbits to control this organism which is a known producer of generalized tuberculosis in these animals. Further, antibiotic U-59,761 can be used as a bacteriostatic rinse for laundered clothes, and for impregnating papers and fabrics; and, it is also useful for suppressing the growth of sensitive organisms in plate assays and microbiological media. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Chemical and Physical Properties of Antibiotic U-59,761 
     Molecular Weight: 422.2269 (mass spectrometry). 
     Molecular Formula: C 23  H 34  O 7   
     Elemental Analysis: C, 65.63; H, 7.97. 
     Optical Rotation: [α] D   25  +121° (C, 0.7575 MeOH). 
     Ultraviolet Absorption: End absorption only. 
     Solubilities: Soluble in methanol and ethanol; less soluble in methyl chloride and methylene chloride; relatively insoluble in petroleum ether and cyclohexane. 
     Melting Point: 201°-206° C. 
     Infrared Absorption Spectrum: 
     Antibiotic U-59,761 has a characteristic infrared absorption spectrum in a mineral oil mull as shown in the drawing FIG. 1. Peaks are observed at the following wave lengths expressed in reciprocal centimeters: 
     
         ______________________________________Band Frequency(Wave numbers         Intensity______________________________________3415                  S3290                  M, sh.3069                  W3042                  W2990                  M2960                  S2925                  S2872                  S2854                  S2824                  M2724                  W2652                  W1701                  S1651                  W1465                  M, sh.1453                  S1421                  W1376                  M1366                  M1349                  M1335                  M1328                  M1314                  M1295                  S1273                  M1250                  M1239                  M1231                  M1213                  W1190                  W1183                  W1168                  W1153                  M1139                  W1124                  M1111                  S1104                  S1089                  M1079                  M1057                  M1029                  S1017                  S1002                  M990                   S970                   M961                   M950                   M937                   M928                   W907                   W887                   M879                   M875                   W856                   W820                   W796                   W781                   W758                   M717                   M687                   W660                   M648                   M631                   M______________________________________ Key: S=Strong, M=Medium, W=Weak, sh.=shoulder 
    
       13  C-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrum: Antibiotic U-59,761 has a characteristic  13  C-NMR spectrum as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing. 
     Antimicrobial spectrum of antibiotic U-59,761: Antibiotic U-59,761 is active against various microorganisms as shown in the following tables: 
     
         ______________________________________Agar Diffusion                 Inhibition ZoneOrganism              Size (mm).sup.1______________________________________B. subtilis UC 564    0B. subtilis UC 6033   0S. aureus UC 70       traceS. aureus UC 3665     17S. aureus UC 6029     traceS. lutea UC 130       35S. lutea UC 3383      34S. lutea sens         38K. pneumoniae UC 58   27E. coli UC 51         0S. schottmuelleri UC 126                 0P. vulgaris UC 93     0P. aeruginosa UC 95   0M. avium UC 159       26P. oxalicum UC 1268   0S. pastorianus UC 1342                 0R. sphaeroides UC 3238                 20S. pyogenes UC 6055   0B. fragilis UC 6513   33C. perfringens UC 6509                 33______________________________________ .sup.1 Schleicher and Schuell Inc., 704 paper discs (12.7 mm) dipped in 1 mg/ml methanolic solution of antibiotic, dried, and applied to seeded aga trays. Inhibition zone read after 16 hr incubation. 
    
     A solution of Antibiotic U-59,761 was prepared in ethanol, diluted in BHI broth (Difco), and MIC&#39;s were determined using the standard microplate broth-dilution method. 
     
         ______________________________________                   Minimal InhibitoryOrganism       UC       Concentration (μg/ml)______________________________________S. aureus      75       125          570      125          746      250S. fecalis     694      &gt;1000S. pyogenes    152      500D. pneumoniae  41       1000E. coli        45       1000K. pneumoniae  58       1000P. vulgaris    93       &gt;1000Ps. aeruginosa 95       &gt;1000S. schottmuelleri          126      1000______________________________________ &#34;UC&#34; is a registered trademark of The Upjohn Company culture collection. These cultures can be obtained from The Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan upon request. 
    
     THE MICROORGANISM 
     The microorganism used for the production of antibiotic U-59,761, as described herein, is a biologically pure culture of Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strain 367, NRRL 12045. 
     A subculture of this microorganism can be obtained from the permanent collection of the Northern Regional Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Peoria, Ill., U.S.A. Its accession number in this depository is NRRL 12045. It should be understood that the availability of the culture does not constitute a license to practice the subject invention in derogation of patent rights granted with the subject instrument by governmental action. 
     The microorganism of this invention was studied and characterized by Alma Dietz and Grace P. Li of The Upjohn Company Research Laboratories. 
     An actinomycete isolated in the Upjohn soils screening laboratory has been characterized and found to have the macroscopic, microscopic and whole cell hydrolysate properties of the genus Saccharopolyspora [Iwasaki, A., N. Itoh, and T. Mori, 1979. A new broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic complex, sporaricin. II. Taxonomic studies on the sporaricin producing strain Saccharopolyspora hirsuta subsp. kobensis nov. subsp. J. Antibiotics. 32: 180-186.][Lacey, J. and M. Goodfellow. 1975. A novel actinomycete from sugar-cane bagasse: Saccharopolyspora hirsuta gen. et sp. nov. J. Gen. Microbiol 88:75-85]. A comparison with the type culture Saccharopolyspora hirsuta ATCC 27875 is given in Tables 1 and 2. A comparison with the type culture and with the subspecies, Saccharopolyspora hirsuta ss. kobensis ATCC 20501 [Iwasaki, A. supra] based on data published for these strains is given in Table 3. 
     Unique properties of the genus Saccharopolyspora are its butyrous or gelatinous-type vegetative growth, sparse aerial growth which is best studied after 21 days incubation, yellow to orange to orange-tan vegetative growth and pigment production, spore chains developing in a sheath with unique hair tufts with truncated bases and smooth areas between the tufts, the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose in whole cell hydrolysates and in cell wall preparations. L-diaminopimelic acid was detected in addition to meso-DAP in our cell wall preparations. 
     No antibiotic production has been reported for the type culture; the subspecies kobensis produces the antibiotic complex sporaricin (KA-6606) [Iwasaki, A. supra]. The new isolate is distinguished by the production of antibiotic U-59,760. The only significant difference among the strains is in their antibiotic production capability. Therefore, the new strain is designated Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strain 367. The taxonomic methods used herein were those cited in Dietz [Dietz, A. 1954. Ektachrome transparencies as aids in actinomycete classification. Ann N. Y. Acad. Sci. 60: 152-154.] [Dietz, A. 1967. Steptomyces steffisburgensis sp. n. J. Bacteriol. 94: 2022-2026.],  Dietz and Mathews [Dietz, A., and J. Mathews. 1971. Classification of Streptomyces spore surfaces into five groups. Appl. Microbiol. 21: 527-533.], Becker et al. [Becker, B., M. P. Lechevalier, and H. A. Lechevalier. 1966. Chemical composition of cell wall preparations from strains of various form-genera of aerobic actinomycetes. Appl. Microbiol. 13 236-243.], Lechevalier and Lechevalier [Lechevalier, H. A., and M. P. Lechevalier. 1970. A critical evaluation of the genera of aerobic actinomycetes, p. 393-405. In H. Prauser (ed.), The Actinomycetales. Gustav Fisher, Jena.] [Lechevalier, M. P., and H. A. Lechevalier. 1970. Chemical composition as a criterion in the classification of aerobic antinomycetes. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 20: 435-443.], and Shirling and Gottlieb [Shirling, E. B., and D. Gottlieb. 1966. Methods for characterization of Streptomyces species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 16: 313-340.]. Color characteristics: Aerial mycelium gray to gray-pink (very sparse at 14 days). Melanin negative. Appearance on Ektachrome is given in Table 1. Surface colors of the vegetative growth were determined to be red (R) or yellow (Y) by matching the color with the chips in the Tresner and Backus [Tresner, H. D., and E. J. Backus. 1963. System of color wheels for streptomycete taxonomy. Appl. Microbiol. 11: 335-338.] color wheels. 
     Microscopic characteristics: Spore masses and spore chains, intact and fragmented, and flexuous or loosely spiraled chains, as observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, appear to develop in a sheath which is at first almost smooth; then unique tufts of hairs (triangular at the base) are formed. The surface between the tufts is smooth. Finally, the sheath becomes covered with fine long hairs. The long sheaths are tangled and appear to arise from, or fuse to form pseudosporangia. As the chains come in contact with the substrate the spores become smooth in outline with a depressed or ridged appearance. &#34;Empty&#34; hyphae are noted in the developed chains. Microscopic characteristics are best noted after 21 days incubation at 28°-37° C. Nocardioform fragmentation may be seen in 21 day cultures. 
     Growth on carbon compounds: Under the test conditions of Shirling and Gottlieb [supra] growth was good on the positive control (basal medium plus D-glucose), sucrose, D-mannitol, D-fructose and raffinose. Growth was doubtful on L-arabinose and D-xylose. There was no growth on the negative control (basal medium only), inositol, rhamnose, and cellulose. 
     Whole cell analysis: meso-Diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose were detected. 
     Cell wall analysis: meso-Diaminopimelic acid, L-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose were found. 
     Cultural and biochemical characteristics: See Table 2. 
     Temperature: There was no to very poor growth at 18° C. on Bennett&#39;s and maltose-tryptone agars and poor growth on Czapek&#39;s sucrose agar. Growth was good at 24°-45° C. There was no growth at 55° C. 
     
                                           TABLE 1__________________________________________________________________________Color characteristics* of Saccharopolyspora hirsuta ATCC 27875 and S.hirsuta strain 367 onEktachrome            S. hirsuta ATCC 27875                           S. hirsuta strain 367Agar Medium    Determination            Chip               Color       Chip                              Color__________________________________________________________________________Bennett&#39;s    S       71 moderate orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellow    R       71 moderate orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellowCzapek&#39;s sucrose    S       74 strong yellowish brown                           67 brilliant orange yellow    R       72 dark orange yellow                           67 brilliant orange yellowMaltose-tryptone    S       71 moderate orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellow    R       71 moderate orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellowPeptone-iron    S       68 strong orange yellow                           68 strong orange yellow    R       68 strong orange yellow                           68 strong orange yellow0.1% Tyrosine    S       73 pale orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellow    R       73 pale orange yellow                           71 moderate orange yellowCasein   S       73 pale orange yellow                           70 light orange yellow    R       73 pale orange yellow                           73 pale orange yellow__________________________________________________________________________ *Color was determined by comparison with NBS color chips (SP 440. Color: Universal Language and Dictionary of Names. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. SRM 2106. ISCCNBS Centroid Color Charts. Office of Standard Reference Material, Room B311, Chem. Building, Nationa Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC 20234. S = Surface R = Reverse 
    
     
                                           TABLE 2__________________________________________________________________________Cultural and biochemical characteristics of Saccharopolyspora hirsutastrains.Agar medium     Determination             S. hirsuta ATCC 27875                          S. hirsuta strain 367__________________________________________________________________________Peptone-iron     S       Colorless (V)                          Colorless or light tan                          wrinkled (V)     R       Pale yellow  Orange-tan     P        --          Pale tan to orange-tan     O       Melanin negative                          Melanin negativeCalcium malate     S       Trace white (A)                          Trace gray (A)     R       Cream        Pale gray cream     P        --           --     O       Malate solubilized                          Malate slightly solubilizedGlucose asparagine     S       Colorless to light tan (V)                          Light tan (V)     R       Orange       Orange-tan     P       Orange       Orange-tanSkim milk S       Tan (V)      Orange-brown (V)     R       Orange-tan   Dark orange-tan     P       Orange-tan   Deep orange-tan     O       Casein solubilized                          Casein solubilizedTyrosine  S       Tan (V)      Orange-tan (V)     R       Orange       Orange     P       Orange       Orange     O       Tyrosine solubilized                          Tyrosine solubilizedXanthine  S       Colorless (V)                          Pale tan (V)     R       Pale yellow  Pale tan     P       Pale yellow  Pale tan-peach     O       Xanthine solubilized                          Xanthine solubilized             around growthNutrient starch     S       Colorless (V)                          Pale tan (V)     R       Pale yellow  Pale tan     P       Very pale yellow                          Very pale tan     O       Starch hydrolyzed                          Starch hydrolyzedYeast extract-malt     S       Colorless (V)                          Pale tan (V)extract     R       Orange       Pale orange-tan     P       Orange       OrangePeptone-yeast     S       Colorless (V) with very                          Colorless (V)extract-iron      slight trace white (A)(ISP-6)     R       Yellow-tan   Light orange-tan to tan     O       Melanin negative                          Melanin negativeTyrosine (ISP-7)     S       Trace white (A)                          Very pale orange (V)     R       Yellow tan   Very pale orange     O       Melanin negative                          Melanin negativeGelatinPlain     S       Trace white (A) on                          Colorless to pale yellow (V)             colorless surface             pellicle     P       None         None to trace pale yellow     O       Gelatin liquefied                          Gelatin liquefiedNutrient  S       Trace white (A) on                          Trace colorless (V) to trace             yellow (V) pellicle                          white (A) on (V)     P       None         None     O       Gelatin liquefied                          Gelatin liquefiedBrothSynthetic nitrate     S       No surface growth                          Trace white (A) on colorless (V)     P       None         None     O       Compact bottom growth                          Compact to flocculent bottom             No reduction growth                          No reductionNutrient nitrate     S       Trace white (A) on color-                          Trace white (A) on colorless             less surface pellicle                          surface ring     P       None         None     O       Flocculent bottom growth;                          Poor colorless compact bottom             No reduction growth; No reductionLitmus milk     S       Pale gray (A) on yellow-                          Blue-gray surface ring             tan surface ring     P       None         Deep red-tan     O       Litmus not reduced                          Peptonization             pH 6.7-7.3   pH 7.6-7.8__________________________________________________________________________ S = Surface O = Other characteristics R = Reverse (V) = Vegetative Growth P = Pigment (A) = Aerial growth 
    
     
                                           TABLE 3__________________________________________________________________________Comparison of Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strainsTests       S. hirsuta strain 367                  S. hirsuta ATCC 27875                              S. hirsuta kobense ATCC__________________________________________________________________________                              20501Physiological PropertiesTemperature Growth from 18-45 C.                  Growth from 25-45 C.                              Growth from 18-45 C.Optimum Temperature       28-45 C.   37-40 C.    37-42 C.Gelatin liquefaction       Complete   Positive at 27 C.                              Positive at 27 C.Starch hydrolysis       Positive   Positive    PositiveAction on milk       No coagulation                  No coagulation                              No coagulation       Peptonization                  Peptonization                              PeptonizationMelanoid pigment       Negative   Negative    NegativeproductionNitrate reduction       Negative   Negative    PositiveCarbon SourceUtilizationL-Arabinose ±       -           -D-Xylose    ±       +           -L-Rhamnose  -          +           -D-Glucose   +          +           +D-Fructose  ++         +           +Sucrose     +          +           +Raffinose   ++         +           +Inositol    -          +           -D-Mannitol  ++         +           +__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     The compound of the invention process is produced when the elaborating organism is grown in an aqueous nutrient medium under submerged aerobic conditions. It is to be understood, also, that for the preparation of limited amounts surface cultures and bottles can be employed. The organism is grown in a nutrient medium containing a carbon source, for example, an assimilable carbohydrate, and a nitrogen source, for example, an assimilable nitrogen compound or proteinaceous material. Preferred carbon sources include glucose, brown sugar, sucrose, glycerol, starch, cornstarch, lactose, dextrin, molasses, and the like. Preferred nitrogen sources include cornsteep liquor, yeast, autolyzed brewer&#39;s yeast with milk solids, soybean meal, cottonseed meal, cornmeal, milk solids, pancreatic digest of casein, fish meal, distillers&#39; solids, animal peptone liquors, meat and bone scraps, and the like. Combinations of these carbon and nitrogen sources can be used advantageously. Trace metals, for example, zinc, magnesium, manganese, cobalt, iron, and the like, need not be added to the fermentation media since tap water and unpurified ingredients are used as components of the medium prior to sterilization of the medium. 
     Production of the compound by the invention process can be effected at any temperature conducive to satisfactory growth of the microorganism, for example, between about 18° and 40° C., and preferably between about 20° and 28° C. Ordinarily, optimum production of the compound is obtained in about 3 to 15 days. The final pH of the fermentation is dependent, in part, on the buffers present, if any, and in part on the initial pH of the culture medium. 
     When growth is carried out in large vessels and tanks, it is preferable to use the vegetative form, rather than the spore form, of the microorganism for inoculation to avoid a pronounced lag in the production of the compound and the attendant inefficient utilization of the equipment. Accordingly, it is desirable to produce a vegetative inoculum in a nutrient broth culture by inoculating this broth culture with an aliquot from a soil, liquid N 2  agar plug, or a slant culture. When a young, active vegetative inoculum has thus been secured, it is transferred aseptically to large vessels or tanks. The medium in which the vegetative inoculum is produced can be the same as, or different from, that utilized for the production of the compound, so long as a good growth of the microorganism is obtained. 
     A variety of procedures can be employed in the isolation and purification of the compound produced by the subject invention from fermentation beers. Isolation can be accomplished by extraction with solvents such as methylene chloride, acetone, butanol, ethyl acetate and the like; and silica gel chromatography can be used to purify crude preparations of the antibiotic. 
     In a preferred recovery process, the compound produced by the subject process is recovered from the culture medium by separation of mycelia and undissolved solids by conventional means, such as by filtration or centrifugation, and solvent extraction of both mycelial cake or clarified broth. The clarified broth can be extracted with a suitable solvent, for example, methylene chloride (preferred), ethylacetate, butanol, and MIBK. The extract can be evaporated under reduced pressure to a concentrate and the antibiotic recovered from this cencentrate by subjecting the concentrate to chromatography over silica gel and eluting with methanol and methylene chloride. 
    
    
     The following examples are illustrative of the process of the invention, but are not to be construed as limiting. All percentages are by weight and all solvent mixture proportions are by volume unless otherwise noted. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Part A. Fermentation 
     A biologically pure culture Saccharopolyspora hirsuta strain 367, NRRL 12045, is used to inoculate 500-ml Erlenmeyer seed flasks containing 100 ml of sterile medium consisting of the following ingredients: 
     
         ______________________________________Glucose monohydrate     25 g/lPharmamedia*            25 g/lTap water q.s.          1 liter______________________________________ *Pharmamedia is an industrial grade of cottonseed flour produced by Traders Oil Mill Company, Fort Worth, Texas. 
    
     The seed medium presterilization pH is 7.2. The seed inoculum is grown for three days at 28° C. on a Gump rotary shaker operating at 250 rpm and having a 21/2 inch stroke. 
     After three days incubation, the seed medium is used to inoculate (the inoculation rate is 5 ml of seed inoculum per 100 ml of fermentation medium) a series of 500-ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing sterile fermentation medium consisting of the following ingredients: 
     
         ______________________________________Glucose monohydrate     10 g/lDextrin                 20 g/lCorn steep liquor       2.5 g/lNH.sub.4 NO.sub.3       3.0 g/lNaCl                    2.0 g/lCaCO.sub.3              5.0 g/lpH-7.2 (presterilization)______________________________________ 
    
     The fermentation flasks are incubated at a temperature of 28° C. on a Gump rotary shaker operating at 250 rpm and having a 21/2 inch stroke. Harvest is usually after about 5 days of fermentation. A typical 5 day fermentation has the following titers of antibiotic in the fermentation broth: 
     
         ______________________________________Day             S. lutea Assay, Bu/ml______________________________________2               8.03               10.44               10.45               11.2______________________________________ 
    
     In the assay results, a biounit (BU) is defined as the concentration of the antibiotic which gives a 20 mm zone of inhibition under the standard assay condition. Thus, if, for example, a fermentation beer has to be diluted 1/100 to give a 20 mm zone of inhibition, the potency of such beer is 100 Bu/ml. 
     B. Recovery and Purification 
     The whole beer (ca. 5,000 l) from a fermentation, as described above, is adjusted to pH 7.3 with NaOH and filtered on a 30 inch filter press using diatomaceous earth as a filter aid. During the filtration operation wash water is applied to the filter cake. From the filtration operation is recovered 5,500 l of clear fermentation browth which is then extracted twice with methylene chloride (1,400 l each time) to give a total of 2.800 l of solvent extract. This solvent extract is concentrated in vacuo to 10 l. Assay on a standard S. lutea disc plate assay gives a value of 2424 Bu/ml. 
     The extract concentrate described above (9 l), is chomatographed over a column containing 9 kg of silica gel (E. Merck-silica gel 7734). The column is eluted as follows: 
     20 liters methylene chloride; then 40 liters 2% methanol in methylene chloride; then 150 liters 5% methanol in methylene chloride; then 100 liters 10% methanol in methylene chloride. Four liter fractions are collected after an 80 liter forerun. Fractions 10-19 contain antibiotic U-59,761. 
     Cyrstalline antibiotic U-59,761 (41.4 g) is obtained on concentration of fractions 10-19. Another 12.8 g of crystalline antibiotic U-59,761 is obtained by chromatography of the mother liquors over silica gel with ethyl acetate as eluant.