GLYCOPEPTIDE ANTIBIOTICS, THEIR PREPARATION AND USE AND MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING THEM

Abstract: Compounds of formula wherein R is or H; wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃, or X is OH and Y is H, and their pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts have potent activity against gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant bacteria.

Description: This invention relates to glycopeptide antibiotics represented by the following formula I: wherein R is or H, wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃, or X is OH and Y is H, and pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts thereof. This invention further relates to their production and microorganisms producing them. Recently, as a lot of antibiotics have been generally used, the emergence of microorganisms resistant against many kinds of antibiotics, especially methicillin-resistant microorganisms, has been growing into a severe problem. The methicillin-resistant microorganism is resistant not only against methicillin but also against almost all of antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, cephalosporins, cephamycins, penems, carbapenems and macrolides. It has been attracting attention that glycopeptides, especially vancomycins, show potent activity against said methicillin-resistant microorganisms (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28 , 660-662 (1985)). Vancomycin is a well-known antibiotic (Japanese Patent Publication No. 33-8450) and new analogs thereof have been discovered (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 28 , 660-662 (1985); The Journal of Antibiotics 37 , 446-453 (1984), 38 , 1-8 (1985), 38 , 51-57 (1985); Japanese Unexamed Patent Publication Nos. 60-39623, 60-199397, 60-231698, 60-237099, and so on). Antibiotics PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B of this invention are new vancomycin antibiotics having different structures from those of the above-mentioned compounds. Vancomycin now on the market which has low purity has been used in orally administrable preparations but is difficult to apply as injectable preparations. Accordingly, there is a need for antibiotics having more potent activity against methicillin-resistant microorganisms than conventional Vancomycins. In this invention, the antibiotic represented by the formula I wherein R is wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃, is named PA-42867-A. The antibiotic represented by the formula I wherein R is wherein X is OH and Y is H, is named PA-42867-B. The antibiotic represented by the formula I wherein R is is named des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl)-PA-42867-A. The antibiotic represented by the formula I wherein R is H is named des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl)-PA-42867-A. PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B may be prepared by fermenting a PA-42867-A- and/or PA-42867-B-producing microorganisms belonging to the genus Nocardia in a broth and collecting PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B from the fermented broth. Antibiotics des-(4-epi-vancosaminyl)-PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl)-PA-42867-A may be prepared by hydrolyzing PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B. They all have novel sturctures and present excellent antibacterial activity against gram positive microorganisms, in particular, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in vivo. In the accompanying drawings, Fig.1, Fig.2, Fig.3 and Fig.4 show the IR spectrum, mass spectrum, ¹H-NMR spectrum and ¹³C-NMR spectrum, respectively, of PA-42867-A. Fig.5, Fig.6, Fig.7 and Fig.8 show the IR spectrum, mass spectrum, ¹H-NMR spectrum and ¹³C-NMR spectrum, respectively, of PA-42867-B. Figs. 9 and 10 show the ¹H-NMR spectrum of des-(4-epi-vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A, respectively. The present invention is based upon the discovery of a strain of the genus Nocardia producing compounds represented by the following formula II; wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃, or X is OH and Y is H; which compounds show potent activity against methicillin-resistant microorganisms. As indicated, the compound of formula II wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃ was named PA-42867-A and the compound of formula II wherein X is OH and Y is H was named PA-42867-B. The physicochemical properties of compounds PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B of this invention are shown below. Physicochemical Properties 1 ○ PA-42867-A UV spectrum λ 0.01NHCl / maxnm(E 1% / 1cm): 281.8 (41.15) λ 0.01NNaOH·aq / maxnm(E 1% / 1cm): 302.6 (43.14) Specific rotatory power [α] 25° / D: -88.8±3.1° (c=0.41 water) IR spectrum (see Fig. 1) IR (KBr): 3396, 1654, 1588(sh), 1505, 1420, 1396, 1223, 1131, 1064, 1010(sh) cm⁻¹ Mass spectrum (see Fig. 2) MS m/z: 1557 (M+H)⁺ Anal. calcd. (%) for C₇₃H₈₉O₂₆N₁₀Cl·3½H₂O :C;54.08, H;5.97, N;8.64, Cl;2.19 Found (%) :C;54.03, H;6.14, N;8.60, Cl;2.19 NMR spectrum ¹H-NMR: 400MHz, in d₆DMSO+1 drop D₂O, internal standard TMS, 100°C, (see Fig. 3) δ ppm: 0.888 (d, 6.5, 3H), 0.917 (d, 6.0, 3H), 1.093 (d, 6.0, 3H), 1.156 (s, 3H), 1.167 (d, 6.2, 3H), 1.202 (s, 3H), around 1.425 (m, 1H), around 1.525 (m, 1H), 1.630 (dd, 13.6, 4.3, 1H), 1.640 (dd, 13.6, 4.3, 1H), 1.766 (m, 1H), 1.866 (d like, 13.6, 1H), 1.915 (d like, 13.6, 1H), 2.175 (dd, 16.0, 7.5, 1H), 2.315 (s, 3H), 2.560 (dd, 16.0, 5.0, 1H), 2.892 (d, 9.5, 1H), 2.947 (d, 9.6, 1H), around 3.03 (shaded by water in solvent, 1H), around 3.31 (m, 2H), 3.428 (t like, around 8.7, 1H), 3.540 (dd, 11.6, 4.8, 1H), 3.609 (qd, 6.2, 9.5, 1H), 3.688 (dd, 7.2, 8.7, 1H), 3.730 (dd, 11.6, 2.1, 1H), 4.141 (qd, 6.0, 9.6, 1H), 4.233 (broad s like, 1H), 4.328 (dd, 5.0, 7.5, 1H), 4.485 (s like, 1H), 4.516 (s, 1H), 4.674 (d like, around 4.3, 1H), 4.699 (d, 4.0, 1H), 5.152 (d like, around 4.0, 1H), 5.188 (broad s like, 1H), 5.190 (s like, 1H),, 5.305 (d like, around 4.3, 1H), 5.603 (d, 7.2, 1H), 5.638 (broad s like, 1H) 5.762 (broad s like, 1H), 6.375 (d, 2.3, 1H), 6.388 (d, 2.3, 1H), 6.712 (d, 8.3, 1H), 6.793 (dd, 8.3, 2.2, 1H), 7.087 (dd, 8.5, 2.2, 1H), 7.120 (dd, 8.3, 2.2, 1H), 7.148 (d, 2.2, 1H), 7.215 (d, 8.4, 1H), 7.286 (broad dd like, around 8.3, around 2.0, 1H), 7.327 (dd, 8.4, 2. 0, 1H), 7.586 (broad dd like, around 8.5, around 2, 1H), 7.863 (d, 2.0, 1H) ¹³C-NMR: 50MHz, in D₂O, external standard CH₃CN 1.7ppm, 60°C (see Fig. 4) δ ppm: 178.9, 177.8, 174.8, 172.1, 171.9, 171.7, 170.3, 167.8, 158.0, 156.3, 155.9, 155.85, 155.85, 153.85, 151, 138.8, 137, 136.85, 136.7, 134.9, 133.9, 131, 130, 128.8, 128.4, 127.8, 127.1, 126.2, 124.6, 124.2, 123.9, 122.8, 119.4, 118.6, 107.4, 107.3, 104.9 104, 102.3, 99.2, 94, 80.7, 77.5 77.5, 76.9, 76.8, 75.2, 72.5, 72.5, 70.4, 67.4, 67.2, 63.4, 63.4, 61.7, 60.5, 59.9, 56.1, 55.5, 55.5, 54.9, 52.7, 42, 41.4, 39.85, 37.6, 34.9, 25.2, 23.3, 22.5, 20.6, 19.9, 18.4, 18.1. Thin layer chromatography Merck precoated TLC plate silica gel 60F254 Developing solvent: chloroform: methanol: conc. amonia water: sec-butanol: water (5:10:5:5:2) Rf = 0.28 High performance liquid chromatography (Shimazu LC-6A) Column: Chemco Pak Nucleosil 5C18 ø4.6 × 150 mm (Chemco Scientific Co., Ltd.) Detection: UV 220 nm Flow rate: 1 ml/min. Mobile phase: 8% acetonitrile - 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH3.5) Retention time: 8.8 min. Mobile phase: 9% acetonitrile - 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH3.5) Retention time: 5.6 min. Color reaction: Ninhydrin positive Solubility Soluble in water and dimethylsulfoxide Slightly soluble in alcohol Insoluble in ether, benzene, chloroform and ethyl acetate Appearance amphoteric, white amorphous powder 2 ○ PA-42867-B UV spectrum λ 0.01NHCl / maxnm(E 1% / 1cm): 281.6 (44.22) λ 0.01NNaOH·aq / maxnm(E 1% / 1cm): 301 (45.94) Specific rotatory power [α] 25° / D : -97.3±3.3° (c=0.41, water) IR spectrum (see Fig. 5) IR (KBr): 3360, 1656, 1587(sh), 1505, 1421, 1393, 1230, 1129, 1062, 1013(sh) cm⁻¹ Mass spectrum (see Fig. 6) MS m/z: 1544 (M+H)⁺ Anal. Calcd. (%) for C₇₂H₈₆O₂₇N₉Cl·1½H₂O :C;55.01; H;5.71, N;8.02, Cl;2.26 Found (%) :C;54.83, H;5.81, N;8.46, Cl;2.13 NMR spectrum ¹H-NMR: 400MHz, in d₆-DMSO + 1 drop D₂O, internal standard TMS, 100°C (see Fig. 7) δ ppm: 0.891 (d, 6.6, 3H), 0 .919 (d,6.5, 3H), 1.080 (d, 6.2, 3H), 1.159 (s, 3 H), 1.173 (d, 6.0, 3H), around 1.428 (m, 1H), 1.469 (m, 1H), around 1.525 (m, 1H), 1.647 (dd, 13.7, 4.4, 1H), 1.767 (m, 1H), 1.920 (d like, 13.7, 1H), 2.042 (dd like, around 13.0, around 5.3, 1H), 2.182 (dd, 16.0, 7.5, 1H), 2.314 (s, 3H), 2.565 (dd, 16.0, 4.8, 1H), 2.817 (t like, around 9.1, 1H), 2.895 (d, 9.7, 1H), around 3.03 (Shaded by water in solvent, 1H), around 3.33 (m, 2H), 3.497 (t like, around 8.5, 1H), 3.547 (dd, 11.6, 4.9, 1H), 3.636 (qd, 6.0, 9.7, 1H), 3.668 (dd, 7.2, 8.5, 1H), around 3.685 (m, 1H), 3.733 (dd, 11.6, 2.3, 1H), 4.092 (qd, 6.2, 9.3, 1H), 4.234 (br d, around 1.5, 1H), 4.330 (dd, 4.8, 7.5, 1H), 4.489 (s like, 1H), 4.516 (s, 1H), 4.686 (d like, around 4.4, 1H), 4.692 (d, 3.9, 1 H), 5.156 (d like, around 3.9, 1H), 5.192 (broad s like, 1H), 5.200 (s like, 1H), 5.334 (d like, around 3.5, 1H), 5.604 (d, 7.2, 1H), 5.641 (broad s like, 1H), 5.771 (broad s like, 1H), 6.388 (s like, 2H), 6.719 (d, 8.5, 1H), 6.800 (dd, 8.5, 2.3, 1H), 7.107 (dd, 8.4, 2.4, 1H), 7.147 (d, 2.3, 1H), 7.170 (dd, 8.4, 2.4, 1H), 7.237 (d, 8.4, 1H), 7.296 (broad dd, around 8.4, around 2.0, 1H), 7.331 (dd, 8.4, 2.0, 1H), 7.590 (broad dd, 8.4, around 2.2, 1H), 7.857 (d, 2.0, 1H) ¹³C-NMR : 50MHz, in D₂O, external standard CH₃CN 1.7ppm, 60°C, (see Fig. 8) δ ppm: 177.9, 177.8, 174.8, 172.2, 172.1, 171.7, 170.3, 167.8, 157.6, 156.1, 156, 155.8, 155.5, 153.9, 151.2, 139, 137 136.7, 136.7, 135, 134.2, 131.4, 130.9, 128.8, 128.4, 127.9, 127.1, 126.4, 124.5, 124.3, 124.1, 122.6, 119.3, 118.6, 109.3, 107.2, 104.6, 104, 102.9, 99.3, 93.7, 79.4, 78.1, 77.9, 76.7, 76.1, 75.2, 72.5, 70.2, 69.6, 68.7, 67.3, 63.1, 63.1, 61.7, 60.4, 59.9, 57.1, 55.5, 55.5, 53, 41.5, 40.2, 39.3, 37.7, 34.1, 25.1, 23.3, 22.5, 19.3, 18.3, 17.8 Thin layer chromatography Merck precoated TLC plate silica gel 60F254 Developing solvent: chloroform: methanol: conc. ammonia water: sec-butanol: water (5:10:5:5:2) Rf = 0.22 High performance liquid chromatography (Shimazu LC-6A) Column: Nucleosil 5C18 ø4.6 × 150 mm Detection: UV 220 nm Flow rate: 1 ml/min. Mobile phase: 9% acetonitrile - 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH3.5) Retention time : 9.4 min. Mobile phase: 10% acetonitrile - 0.05M phosphate buffer (pH3.5) Retention time: 6.9 min. Color reaction: Ninhydrin positive Solubility Soluble in water and dimethylsulfoxide, Slightly soluble in alcohol, Insoluble in ether, benzene, chloroform and ethyl acetate. Apperance amphoteric, white amorphous powder From the above physicochemical properties, PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B are deduced to have the following configuration. wherein X is NH₂ and Y is CH₃; or X is OH and Y is H. PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B have hte above-mentioned properties which differ from those of conventional glycopeptide antibiotics and, therefore, are determined to be new glycopeptide antibiotics. Strain PA-42867 isolated from a certain soil sample is an example of a microorganism producing PA-42867-A and PA-42867-B. It has been determined as belonging to Nocardia orientalis through taxological investigation and has been deposited as Nocardia orientalis PA-42867 (FERM BP-1230) with the Fermentation Research Institute Agency of the Industrial Science & Technology under the Budapest Treaty. In general, this invention includes a microorganism producing PA-42867-A and/or -B as well as strain PA-42867 or its natural or artificial mutants. The strain has the following taxonomical characteristics. (1) Morphological character On Yeast-Malt agar, Tyrosine agar and Bennett's agar media, aerial mycelium and spore of this strain are formed abundantly. No whirl is observed. Aerial mycelium develops well and the spore chains are straight or wavy. The shape of spore is long cylindrical and 0.3-0.5 × 1.2-1.7 µm in size and the spore surface structure is smooth under electron microscopic observation. Neither sporangium, flagellated spore nor sclerotium is observed. Grouwth temperature (incubated at each temperature for 14 days on Bennett's agar) 10°C: Growth is fairly well and aerial mycelium is not formed. 28°C: Growth and formation of aerial mycelia and spores are well. 37°C: not growing. 45°C: not growing. (3) Physiological character (incubated at 28°C for 14 days) Melanin production negative Tyrosinase reaction negative Coagulation of milk negative Peptonization of milk positive Gelatin liquefaction positive Starch hydrolysis negative (4) Utilization of carbohydrates (5) Cell Wall Composition The diaminopimeric acid of this strain of meso-form. This strain is determined to belong to the genus Nocardia from the above characteristics. The closest species to this strain was searched from the following literature; i . Waxman S. A. : The Actinomycetes, vol. 2 (1961), ii . Elwood B. Shirling and David Gottlieb: International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, vol. 18 (1968), vol. 19 (1969) and vol. 22 (1972), iii . Bergy's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, the eighth edition (1974), and iv . Other literatures disclosing new species of Actinomycetes. As a result, this strain was determined as belonging to Nocardia orientalis (This is referred to as Streptomyces orientalis in the following literature; International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology vol. 18, 154~157 (1968) and The Actinomycetes, vol. 2, 254~255 (1961)). Compared with Nocardia orientalis, the main characteristics of this strain PA-42867 are identical except utilization of arabinose and rhamnose. Accordingly, this strain PA-42867 was identified as species Nocardia orientalis and named Nocardia orientalis PA-42867. All strains belonging to the genus Nocardia and producing PA-42867-A and/or -B as well as the above strain PA-42867 and its natural or artificial mutants can be used in this invention. PA-42867-A and/or B may be prepared by incubating a PA-42867-A-and/or -B-producing strain in a nutrient broth under aerobic conditions and isolating and collecting PA-42867-A and/or -B from the incubated broth after the incubation. A general process for preparing PA-42867-A and/or -B is described below. The composition and condition of broths generally used in preparing antibiotics can be applied to this process. The broth generally contains carbon sources, nitrogen sources and inorganic salts As occasion demands, vitamins, precursors and so on may be added to the broth. The carbon source,such as glucose, starch, dextrin, glycerol, molasses, organic acids and the like, may be employed alone or as a mixture. The nitrogen source,such as soy bean meal, corn steep liquor, meat extracts, yeast extract, cottonseed powder, peptone, wheat germ, ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and the like may be employed alone or as a mixture. The inorganic salts,such as calcium carbonate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese chloride, zinc sulfate, cobalt chloride, phosphates and the like,may be added to the broth as occasion demands. The fermentation can be achieved according to general methods for preparing antibiotics. In this invention, liquid culture, especially submerged aeration culture in mass production, is preferable. If the pH of the broth alters, a buffer agent such as calcium carbonate may be added to the broth. The preferred temperature of fermentation is about 20-40°C, especially 28-32°C. The time of fermentation depends very much upon the scale of the fermentation and it takes about 60-100 hours to achieve mass fermentation. Where a lot of foam is induced during the fermentation, a defoamer such as vegetable oil or polypropylene glycol may properly be added thereto before or during the fermentation. The isolation and collection of PA-42867-A and/or -B from the fermented broth after the fermentation can be performed according to usual methods for the isolation and collection of conventional fermentation products, for example, filtration, centrifugation, adsorption and desorption or chromatography by several kinds of ion exchange resins or other active adsorbents, extraction by several kinds of organic solvents and their combination. The present invention is also based upon the discovery that novel glycopeptide antibiotics possessing excellent antibacterial activity can be obtained selectively and at high yield by hydrolyzing PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B in the presence of an acid. Thus, the invention further includes novel glycopeptide antibiotic represented by the formula III; wherein R is and their pharmaceutically or veterinarily acceptable salts. Thus, this invention includes des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A where R is des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A where R is hydrogen, and their salts. The physical properties of compounds of formula III are shown below. Des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A: Specific rotatory power [α] 24° / D : -91.5 ± 3.1° (C=0.422, water) IR spectrum KBr, cm⁻¹: 3380, 2928, 1658, 1587, 1505, 1422, 1395, 1228, 1131, 1064, 1029, 1012, 1000 Mass analysis (SIMS) MS m/Z : 1414 (M + H)⁺ Circular dichroism spectrum (CD spectrum) λ 0.05MPBS(pH3.5) / maxnm [ϑ]:310 (0), 285 (-15400), 277 (sh) (-7300), 260 (-950), 251 (-1140), 249 (0), 228 (+127400), 214 (0) NMR spectrum (¹H NMR) (see Fig. 9) 400 MHz, d₆-DMSO + D₂O (1 drop), 100°C, internal standard TMS δ ppm: 0.889 (3H, d, J=6.7 Hz), 0.916 (3H, d, 6.5), 1.179 (3H, s), 1.179 (3H, d, 6.2), 1.427 (1H, d, d, d, 14.2, 7.8, 6.3), 1.529 (1H, d, d, d, 14.2, 7.6, 5.8), 1.670 (1H, d, d, 13.9 and 4.4) 1.763 (1H, m), 1.942(1H, d-like, 13.9), 2.178 (1H, d, d, 16.0 and 7.3), 2.314 (3H, s), 2.549 (1H, d, d, 16.0, 5.2), 2.920 (1H, d, 9.7), approx. 3.3 (2H, m), 3.339 (1H, t, 8.7), 3.439 (1H, d, d, 7.3, 8.7), 3.542 (1H, d, d, 11.5 and 4.5), 3.634 (1H, q, d, 6.2 and 9.7), 3.711 (1H, d, d, 11.5 and 2.0), 4.238 (1H, br. s-like), 4.356 (1H, d, d, 7.3 and 5.2), 4.489 (1H, br. s). 4.519 (1H, s), 4.694 (1H, d-like, 4.4), 4.704 (1H, d, 4.0), 5.169 (1H, d-like, 4.0), 5.204 (2H, br. s-like), 5 .346 (1H, d, 7.3), 5.659 (1H, br. s), 5.778 (1H, br. s), 6 .380 (1H, d, 2.3), 6.394 (1H, d, 2.3), 6.723 (1H, d, 8.5), 6.806 (1H, d, d, 8.5 and 2.3), 7.104 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2 .3), 7.135 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.4), 7.151 (1H, d, 2.3), 7.228(1H, br. d, 8.4), 7.294 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.3), 7.338 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.0), 7.602 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.3), 7 .864 (1H, d-like, 2.0) Des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A: Specific rotatory power [α] 24° / D: -62.0 ± 4.9° (C=0.209, water) IR spectrum KBr, cm⁻¹: 3392, 2964, 1657, 1598, 1510, 1429, 1394, 1231, 1207, 1061, 1012, 1005 Mass analysis (SIMS) MS m/Z: 1252 (M + H)⁺ Circular dichroism spectrum (CD spectrum) λ 0.05MPBS(pH3.5) / maxnm[ϑ]: 310 (0), 284.5 (-17200), 264 (-2430), 250 (-11600), 246 (0), 225 (+139000), 213 (0) NMR spectrum (¹H NMR) (see Fig. 10) 400 MHz, d₆-DMSO + D₂O (1 drop), 100°C internal standard TMS δ ppm: 0.888 (3H, d, J = 6.6 Hz), 0.915 (3H, d, 6.7), 1.142 (3H, s), 1.174 (3H, d, 6.1), 1.425 (1H, d, d, d, 14.0, 8.0, 6.5), 1.528 (1H, d, d, d, 14.0, 7.6, 5.7), 1.626 (1H, d, d, 13.7 and 4.4), 1.763 (1H, m), 1.910 (1H, d-like, 13.7), 2.173 (1H, d, d, 16.0 and 7.5), 2.304 (3H, s), 2.545 (1H, d, d, 16.0, 5.4), 2.874 (1H, d, 9.7), 3.653 (1H, qd, 6.1 and 9.7), 4.220 (1H, br. s-like), 4.359 (1H, d, d, 7.5 and 5.0), 4.475 (1H, br. s), 4.513 (1H, s), 4.686 (1H, br. d-like, 4.4), 4.689 (1H, d, 3.9), 5.175 (1H, d-like, 3.9), 5.184 (1H, d, d, 2.3 and 1.1), 5.206 (1H, br. s), 5.598 (1H, br. s), 5.723 (1H, br. s), 6.378 (1H, d, 2.3), 6.401 (1H, d, 2.3), 6.709 (1H, d, 8.5), 6.794 (1H, d, d, 8.5 and 2.3), 7.074 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.4), 7.119 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.4), 7.130 (1H, d, 2.3), 7.215 (1H, d, 8.4), 7.288 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.2), 7.342 (1H, d, d, 8.4 and 2.0), 7.601 (1H, d, d-like, 8.4 and 2.2), 7.848 (1H, d, 2.0) Estimating from the above physicochemical properties, des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A are considered to have the following configuration. Des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A: (Molecular weight 1414.8 calcd. for C₆₆H₇₆O₂₄N₉Cl) R: Des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A: (Molecular weight 1252.7 calcd. for C₆₀H₆₆O₁₉N₉Cl) R:H These compounds may be manufactured from the starting substance PA-42867-A or PA-42867-B represented by the formula II or a mixture thereof, according to the following reaction scheme: In the above reaction, the starting substance may be either PA-42867-A or PA-42867-B, but it is more advantageous to use a crude product containing both which is obtained in their manufacturing processes. When the starting substance represented by the formula II PA-42867 (A or B or their mixture) is hydrolyzed in an acid, two compounds of this invention represented by formula III are produced. As is clear from the reaction scheme, des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A is produced when only the 4- epi -vancosaminyl group of the side chain of PA-42867-A or the olivosyl group of the side chain of PA-42867-B is hydrolyzed. On the other hand, des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A is obtained by hydrolyzing a product from which only this 4- epi -vancosaminyl or olivosyl group is cut off and then removing the sugar residue, or by simultaneously removing the 4- epi -vancosaminyl or olivosyl grup and the sugar residue from the compound of formula II. It is also possible to produce desired products selectively by properly selecting the reaction conditions (acid concentration, temperature, time, etc.). Generally the reaction products obtained by carrying out the reaction in proper conditions can be isolated and refined according to the usual process for isolating and refining ordinary antibiotics known in this field to give the individual compound. Using the method of acid hydrolysis of this invention, novel glycopeptide antibiotics represented formula III may be obtained easily at high yield. Acids which may be used in this invention include inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, and organic acids such as trifluoroacetic acid. The reaction conditions, such as acid concentration, solvent, reaction temperature and reaction time generally conform to the conditions under which sugar chains of glycopeptide antibiotics are usually hydrolyzed. When said acids are used, it is enough to react for 10 minutes to 24 hours at 0 to 50°C. The acid concentration varies with each acid, for example, 5 to 36% for hydrochloric acid, 2N to 12N for sulfuric acid, and 30 to 100% for trifluoroacetic acid. The reaction is preferably conducted in a nitrogen atmosphere. As a result of the above reaction, a mixture of des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl)PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A represented by the formula III is obtained, but one of these compounds may be selectively produced depending on the reaction conditions. Selectively to produce des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl)PA-42867-A, it is enough to react with about 20% of hydrochloric acid at about 0 to 1°C for about 15 to 20 hours, with 5 to 10N of sulfuric acid at room temperature for about 1 to 5 hours, or with about 70 to 100% of trifluoroacetic acid at about 25 to 35°C for about 10 minutes to 2 hours. Selectively to produce des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl)PA-42867-A, it is enough to react with about 80% of trifluoroacetic acid at about 40 to 50°C for about 2 to 4 hours. In the above reaction conditions, either compound is produced at a yield of nearly over 70%. In the next step, the obtained reaction mixture is neutralized with a base such as sodium hydroxide, applied to column chromatography using an adsorbent such as MCI GEL CHP-20P (Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Co.,Ltd.) and fractioned with various eluents, and fractions with high contents of products are collected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). By repeating the fractionation as required, solutions containing each product at high purity can be obtained, and desired products are precipitated by methanol sedimentation or other processes, and this sediment is recrystallized from methanol-water. On the other hand, the filtrate mother liquor may be freeze-dried to obtain the freeze-dried product. In this method, compounds of formula III with HPLC purity of about 91% or higher can be obtained at a high yield of about 50 to 74%. The compounds of the formula I may directly be used in treatment of humans and animals, but it may often be desired to prepare them in the form of salts for ease of absorption into the body. Examples of bases capable of forming a salt with the compounds of this invention include alkaline metals such as potassium and sodium, alkaline earth metals such as aluminium and magnesium, and examples of acids may include inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid, and organic acids such as acetic acid and fumaric acid. The compounds and salts of this invention can be administered to humans and animals either orally or parenterally as active ingredients of antibacterial agents. They may be administered by the oral route in the form of tablets, capsules or powder by using widely applied vehicles, stabilizers, preservatives, wetting agents, surfactants or the like, or by parental routes in the form of injections, ointments or suppositories. The dose varies with the purpose of the treatment and the age and condition of the patient, but generally in the case of intravenous injection a daily dose is about 0.1 to 10 g in an adult patient. The invention thus provides a pharmaceutical or veterinary formulation comprising an antibiotic of the invention or a salt thereof having antibacterial activity and formulated for pharmaceutical or veterinary use, respectively, optionally formulated in unit dosage form and/or also comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable ro veterinarily acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient. Such formulations may be in unit dosage form and/or include an acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient (all in accordance with well known practice in the art). The compounds of this invention show potent antimicrobial acitivity against gram-positive bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant bacteria, so they are useful as human and veterinary medicines (and may be used to prepare medicines). And they are suitable for injectable preparations as well as oral preparations since they can be highly purified. This invention is further explained in more detail in but is not restricted by the following Example. EXAMPLE Example 1 (a) Fermentation step Seed slant culture of Nocardia sp. PA-42867 (FERM BP-1230) is inoculated into an Erlenmeyer flask (2L) charged with 800ml of the broth comprising 0.5% soluble starch, 0.5% glucose, 0.5% polypeptone, 0.5% meat ext., 0.25% yeast ext., 0.25% sodium chloride and deionized water (pH 7.0 before sterilization) and fermented with shaking at 180 r.p.m. at 28°C for 48 hours. This fermented broth (800ml) is transplanted into a jar-fermenter (30L) charged with 20L of the same broth as noted above and fermented at 28°C for 24 hours with stirring at 200 r.p.m. (aeration rate 20L/min. and internal pressure 0.5Kg/cm²G). Then, 10L of the resulting broth is transplanted into a fermentation tank (250L) charged with 140L of the broth comprising 2.4% tomato paste, 2.4% dextrin, 1.2% dried yeast (Iwaki Seiyaku Co., Ltd.), 0.0006% cobalt chloride hexahydrate, 0.08% defoamer P-2000 (Dai Nippon Ink & Chemicals Inc.) and water (pH 7.0 before sterilization) and fermented at 28°C for 64 hours with stirring at 325 r.p.m. (aeration rate 150 L/min. and internal pressure 5 p.s.i.). (b) Isolation step The fermented broth prepared in the above step, which is adjusted to pH 10.5 with 10% sodium hydroxide, is centrifuged to give 145L of the supernatant. Adjusted to pH 4.0, the supernatant is applied to a column charged with 13L of Dowex 50×2 (Na⁺ type)(The Dow chemical Co.), washed with 70L of water and eluted with 40L of 30% acetone water containing 1% triethylamine. The fractions showing activity by the pulp disc dispersion method employing Bacillus subtilis are collected. (22L), adjusted to pH 5.0 and condensed by evaporating acetone under reduced pressure. The resultant is applied to a column of 2L of HP-20 (Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Co., Ltd.), washed with 20L of water and eluted with 50% acetone water. The active fractions are collected (6L), condensed under reduced pressure and lyophilized to give a crude powder 35.6 g of PA-42867. (c) Purification Step The above crude powder (12g) is dissolved in 150ml of 0.01N hydrochloric acid and applied to a column of 100ml of MCI GEL CHP-20P (Mitsubishi Chemical Industries Co.), followed by elution with 0.01N hydrochloric acid tracing out the content of PA-42867 with HPLC. The fractions containing PA-42867-A and -B are adjusted to pH 7.0 and chromatographed again with CHP-20P: the fractions containing PA-42867-A and -B are applied to the column, washed well with 15% methanol water, and eluted with 15% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid to give the fraction containing PA-42867-A and the fraction containing PA-42867-B. The fraction containing PA-42867-A is adjusted to pH 7.0 and condensed. For the purpose of decoloration, the resultant is applied to a column of 10 ml of CHP-20P and eluted with dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 5.0) to give the fraction containing PA-42867-A, which is condensed and lyophilized to give 571 mg of the residue (70% purity). After 571 mg of this residue is dissolved in water and adjusted to pH 5.0 by adding dilute hydrochloric acid, the solution is applied to a column of 10 ml of CHP-20P and eluted with water to give the fraction of PA-42867-A, which is adjusted to pH 7.0 and condensed. The resultant is applied again to a column of 10 ml of CHP-20P (stabilized with 0.05M phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.0)) for the purpose of desalting, washed with 0.05M phosphate buffered saline (pH 7.0) and then with water and eluted with 50% methanol water to give the fraction of PA-42867-A, which is condensed and lyophilized to give 256 mg of PA-42867-A (95% purity). The fraction containing PA-42867-B as noted above is adjusted to pH 7.0, condensed and lyophilized to give 683 mg of the residue. The residue (683 mg) of PA-42867-B dissolved in water is adjusted to pH 4.0 by adding dilute hydrochloric acid, applied to a column of 5 ml of CHP-20P for the purpose of decoloration and eluted with dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 4.0) to give the fraction of PA- 42867-B, which is adjusted to pH 7.0 and condensed. The resultant is applied to Packed Column RQ-2 (Fujigeru Hanbai K.K.) and eluted with 7% acetonitrile-0.05M phosphate buffered saline (pH 4.9) and then 8% acetonitrile-0.05M phosphate buffered saline (pH 4.9) as the purity of PA-42867-B is traced with HPLC. The fractions showing more than 95% purity are collected, adjusted to pH 7.0 and condensed. The resultant is applied to a column of 10 ml of CHP-20P (stabilized with 0.05M phophate buffered saline (pH 7.0)) for desalting, washed with water and eluted with 50% methanol water to give the fractions containing PA-42867-B, which are condensed and lyophilized to give 102 mg of PA-42867-B (98% purity). Example 2 Precisely 2.00 g of crude product obtained in the above step (b) of example 1 ( containing 53% of PA-42867-A and 9% PA-42867-B) is dissolved in 200 ml of 20% hydrochloric acid (Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., for precision analysis) and stirred with ice-chilling (0 to 1°C) under a nitrogen atmosphere for 16 hours. To the reaction solution, 6N sodium hydroxide (about 204 ml) is added to adjust to pH 9.2. It is applied to MCI GEl CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 100 ml), and is eluted successively with water (600 ml), 0.01N hydrochloric acid (450 ml), water (450 ml), 25% methanol water (450 ml), 50% methanol water (400 ml), methanol (400 ml) and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid (400 ml). By a fraction check with HPLC (Nucleosil 300-7C18, 4.6ø × 250 mm, 10% acetonitrile-0.05M PBS (pH 3.5), flow rate 1 ml/min., 220nm UV detection), fraction A (0.01N hydrochloric acid- and water-elution portions) and fraction B (50% methanol-, methanol- and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid-elution portions) are obtained. Fraction B is concentrated, adjusted to pH 3.5, applied to MCI GEL CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 10 ml) and eluted successively with 300 ml of water (adjusted to pH 4.0 by hydrochloric acid water, about 10⁻⁴N hydrochloric acid), 100 ml of 15% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 100 ml of 30% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 100 ml of 50% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 50 ml of methanol and 50 ml of 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid to obtain fraction C (water (pH 4.0)-elution portion) and fraction D (50% methanol-water (pH 4.0)-elution portion). Fraction A and C are put together, concentrate, adjusted to pH 7.0 and desalted by using MCI GEL CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 10 ml); eluted successively with water (100 ml), 25% methanol water (100 ml), 50% methanol water (100 ml), methanol (100 ml) and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid (50 ml) to obtain fraction E (not-desalted portion) and fraction F (desalted portion). Fraction E (not-desalted portion) is desalted again in the same condition to obtain fraction G (desalted portion). In water (39 ml) is dissolved 800 mg of the sediments of obtained fractions F and G (after concentrating each fraction, methanol is added thereto fo form sediment) with heating and methanol (39 ml) is added thereto for recrystallization to obtain 557 mg of crystals (drying under reduced pressure for 1.5 hour at 30°C in the presence of phosphorus pentoxide) of des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A (HPLC 93% purity, yield 46.0%). Separately, from crystal mother liquor and sediment forming mother liquor, 350 mg of freeze-dried product is obtained (des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A, HPLC 91% purity, yield 28.3%). By similarly desalting fraction D, 30 mg of freeze-dried product is obtained (des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A, HPLC 93% purity, yield 2.8%). Example 3 Precisely 100 mg of PA-42867-A of 90% purity obtained in the same manner as in the above step (c) of example 1 is dissolved in 10 ml of 20% hydrochloric acid and stirred for 10 minutes with heating in an oil bath at 40 to 45°C under a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction solution is adjusted to pH 9.2 with 6N NaOH, applied to MCI GEL CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 10 ml) and eluted successively with water (100 ml), 0.01 N hydrochloric acid (50 ml), water (50 ml), 25% methanol (50 ml), 50% methanol (50ml), methanol (50 ml) and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid (50 ml). By checking the fractions with HPLC (Nucleosil 300-7C18, 10% acetonitrile-0.05M PBS (pH 3.5), 220 nm UV detection), fraction I (0.01N hydrochloric acid- and water-elution portions) and fraction II (50% methanol-, methanol- and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid-elution portions) are obtained. Fraction II is concentrated, adjusted to pH 3.5, applied to MCI GEL CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 10ml) and eluted successively with 50 ml of water (pH 4.0), 15% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 30% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 50% methanol-water (pH 4.0), 50 ml of methanol and 50 ml of 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric acid to obtain fraction III (water (pH 4.0)-elution portion) and fraction IV (50% methanol-water (pH 4.0)- and 50% methanol-0.005N hydrochloric-elution portions). Fractions I, III are put together, concentrated, adjusted to pH 7.0 and desalted by using MCI GEL CHP-20P (200 to 400 mesh, 5 ml) to obtain des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A by 31.5 mg (yield 38.6%). Fraction IV is similarly desalted to give 36.6 mg (yield 50.1%) of des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A. Example 4 Refined PA-42867-A is hydrolyzed in hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or trifluoroacetic acid under the reaction conditions shown in Table 1 in order to find out the reaction condition under which one of des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl-O-glucosyl) PA-42867-A is selectively produced. The results are shown in Table 1. As clear from Table 1, when the reaction conditions are properly selected, one of the compounds can be selectively produced at a yield of 70% or higher. Effects of the Invention The in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of the compounds of this invention were evaluated in the following Experimental Examples. Experimental Example 1 In vitro antibacterial activity was determined by the agar dilution method as described below. 1 ○ Preparation of Bacterial Suspension One loopful of each test bacterium on a slant was inoculated into 1 ml of a growth medium (Trypto Soy Broth, Eiken Chemical Co.) and incubated at 37°C for 18-20 hours. For the growth of Streptococci, Mueller-Hinton broth (Difco) supplemented with 3%(V/V) horse serum was employed. A hundred-fold dilution of the culture is used as an inoculum suspension of the bacterium. 2 ○ Sample Solution The sample (9-10 mg) was weighed and dissolved in distilled water at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. 3 ○ Agar Plate A sample solution was subjected to serial two fold dilutions with sterile water (2000-0.25 µg/ml). Into sterile plastic petri dishes (9 cm in diameter) were poured 0.5 ml-aliquots of sample solutions, which were mixed with 9.5 ml of an agar medium (Sensitivity Test Agar, "Nissui"). For Streptococci, horse serum was supplied at 0.5%(V/V). 4 ○ Measurement of MIC Value One loopful (1.0 µl) of the inoculum suspension was placed on the surface of the agar plates prepared as noted above. The bacterial growth was examined visually after overnight incubation (18-20 hrs) at 37°C. The lowest concentration, at which bacterial growth is completely inhibited, is determined to be MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration). The results are shown in Table 2. Experimental Example 2 In vivo antibacterial activity of PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A Method: Test bacterium is intraperitoneally challenged to Slc-ICR female mice (8 mice/group), to which PA-42867-A and des-(4- epi -vancosaminyl) PA-42867-A (serial two fold dilution) are subcutaneously administered 1 and 5 hours post-infection. Result: ED₆₀ (50% effective dose) is calculated from survival rate of mice on day 7 after the infection. The results are shown in Talel 3.

Claims: 1. An antibiotic represented by the formula; where R is or H, X being NH₂ and Y being CH₃, or X being OH and Y being H. 2. A salt of an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1, optionally being a pharmaceutically acceptable or veterinarily acceptable salt. 3. A process for preparing an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1 wherein R is is CH₃ (termed antibiotic PA-42867-A) or X is OH and Y is H (termed PA-42867-B) or a mixture of said antibiotics, which process comprises fermenting Nocardia orientalis preferably Nocardia orientalis PA-42867 (obtainable from FERM BP-1230), or a natural or artificial mutant thereof, and optionally recovering PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B from the fermentation products. 4. A process for preparing an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1 wherein R is and/or an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1 wherein R is H, which process comprises hydrolyzing PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B as defined in claim 3. 5. A PA-42867-A and/or PA-42867-B-producing microorganism belonging to the species Nocardia orientalis. 6. Nocardia orientalis PA-42867 (obtainable from FERM BP-1230). 7. The use of an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1 or a salt as claimed in claim 2 in making a medicament. 8. A pharmaceutical or veterinary formulation comprising an antibiotic as claimed in claim 1 or a salt as claimed in claim 2 having antibacterial activity and formulated for pharmaceutical or veterinary use, respectively, optionally formulated in unit dosage form and/or also comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable or veterinarily acceptable diluent, carrier or excipient.

Inventors: KAMIGAUCHI, TOSHIYUKI, KAWAMURA, YOSHIMI, KONDO, EIJI, MATSUMOTO, KOICHI, MATSUURA, SHINZO, TSUJI, NAOKI, YOSHIDA, TADASHI
Applicants: SHIONOGI SEIYAKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1987
Main classification: C07K9
IPC codes: C07K9, A61K38