Chaetomin, a New Antibiotic Substance Produced by Chaetomium cochliodes

Abstract

Chaetomin was found both in the culture filtrate and in the mycelium of the organism, but mainly in the latter. It was extracted from the culture filtrate with ethyl acetate, and from the mycelium with acetone. Acidic impurities were removed by washing with NaHCO3 and Na2CO3, and further purification was accomplished by chromatographic adsorption and treatment with petroleum ether. The purified chaetomin contained both N and S, but differed in biol. activity from gliotoxin and penicillin. Although it is similar in solubility and bacteriostatic spectrum to tyrothricin, it differs from this substance in chem. properties. Chaetomin is largely active against gram-positive organisms. Preparations active against Staphylococcus aureus in dilutions of 1:500,000,000 or more have been obtained.