Studies on Antibacterial Products Formed by Molds

Abstract

A crystalline substance, aspergillic acid, was isolated from cultures of a strain of A. flavus on tryptone solns. It shows antibacterial activity against certain gram-negative as well as gram-positive bacteria. It is an am-photeric substance of the empirical composition C12H20N2O2. It is of high toxicity, and has shown no protective action against mouse infections with hemolytic streptococci or pneumococci. Expts have shown protective action against infections with gonococci and muci, and workers elsewhere have reported protective action in guinea pigs against gas gangrene.