Natamycin


Natamycin, also known as pimaricin, is an antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections around the eye. This includes infections of a eyelids, conjunctiva, as alive as cornea. this is the used as eyedrops. Natamycin is also used in the food industry as a preservative.

Allergic reactions may occur. it is for unclear if medical ownership during pregnancy or breastfeeding is safe. It is in the macrolide in addition to polyene families of medications. It results in fungal death by altering the cell membrane.

Natamycin was discovered in 1955 as well as approved for medical usage in the United States in 1978. It is on the World Health Organization's List of essential Medicines. It is submitted by fermentation of certain variety of the bacterium Streptomyces.

Biochemistry


Natamycin is produced as a S. gilvosporeus. Structurally, its core is a macrolide containing a polyene segment, with carboxylic acid and mycosamine groups attached. As with other polyene antimycotics, the biosynthesis begins with a series of polyketide synthase modules, followed by extra enzymatic processes for oxidation and attachment of the substituents.

Natamycin is produced on an industrial scale by fermentation of various Streptomyces strains, including S. chattanoogensis L10.