Virustomycin A is a macrolide antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces.1,2 It is active against infectious and plant pathogenic fungi, including T. vaginalis and P. oryzae (MICs = 6.25 and 12.5 μg/ml, respectively), as well as the parasite T. foetus (MIC = 25 μg/ml).1 It also decreases plaque formation by RNA and DNA viruses (ED50 = 0.0003 μg/ml for all). Virustomycin A is active against the GUTat 3.1 strain of T. brucei brucei, but not the STIB900 strain of T. brucei rhodesiense (IC50s = 0.45 and 480 ng/ml, respectively), and induces cytotoxicity in human MRC-5 cells with an IC50 value of 80 ng/ml.3 It inhibits RNA, DNA, and protein synthesis in T. foetus.2
References
1. Omura, S., Shimizu, H., Iwai, Y., et al. AM-2604 A, a new antiviral antibiotic produced by a strain of Streptomyces. J. Antibiot. (Tokyo) 35(12), 1632-1637 (1982).
2. Omura, S., Otogguro, K., and Tanaka, H. The mode of action of a novel 18-membered macrolide, virustomycin A (AM-2604 A), on Trichomonas foetus. J. Antibiot. (Tokyo) 36(12), 1755-1761 (1983).
3. Otoguro, K., Ishiyama, A., Namatame, M., et al. Selective and potent in vitro antitrypanosomal activities of ten microbial metabolites. J.Antibiot.(Tokyo) 61(6), 372-378 (2008).