Streptomycin

Streptomycin

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Systematic (IUPAC) name
5-(2,4-diguanidino- 3,5,6-trihydroxy-cyclohexoxy)- 4-[4,5-dihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl) -3-methylamino-tetrahydropyran-2-yl] oxy-3-hydroxy-2-methyl -tetrahydrofuran-3-carbaldehyde
Clinical data
Pregnancy category	DM
Routes of administration	Intramuscular, intravenous
Legal status
Legal status	UK: POM (Prescription only) US: ℞-only
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	84% to 88% (est.)
Biological half-life	5 to 6 hours
Excretion	Renal
Identifiers
CAS Number	57-92-1
ATC code	A07AA04 (WHO) J01GA01
PubChem	CID 5999
DrugBank	DB01082
ChemSpider	18508
Chemical data
Formula	C21H39N7O12
Molar mass	581.574 g/mol[[]]
Physical data
Melting point	12 °C (54 °F)

Streptomycin is an antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis. It is derived from the actinobacterium Streptomyces griseus. Streptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic. Streptomycin cannot be given orally, but must be administered by regular intramuscular injections. An adverse effect of this medicine is ototoxicity, which can lead to hearing loss.

Mechanism of action

Streptomycin is a protein synthesis inhibitor. It binds to the S12 Protein of the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome, interfering with the binding of formyl-methionyl-tRNA to the 30S subunit. This prevents initiation of protein synthesis and leads to death of microbial cells. Humans have structurally different ribosomes from bacteria, thereby allowing the selectivity of this antibiotic for bacteria. However at low concentrations Streptomycin only inhibits growth of the bacteria by inducing prokaryotic ribosomes to misread mRNA. Streptomycin is an antibiotic that inhibits both gram positive and gram negative bacteria, and is a therefore a useful broad spectrum antibiotic.

History

Streptomycin was first isolated on October 19, 1943 by Albert Schatz, a graduate student, in the laboratory of Selman Abraham Waksman at Rutgers University. Waksman and his laboratory discovered several antibiotics, including actinomycin, clavacin, streptothricin, streptomycin, grisein, neomycin, fradicin, candicidin and candidin. Of these, streptomycin and neomycin found extensive application in the treatment of numerous infectious diseases. Streptomycin was the first antibiotic that could be used to cure the disease tuberculosis; early production of the drug was dominated by Merck & Co. under George W. Merck.

The first randomized trial of streptomycin against pulmonary tuberculosis was carried out in 1947 by the MRC Tuberculosis Research Unit. Whilst neither double-blind nor placebo-controlled, results showed efficacy against TB, albeit with minor toxicity and acquired bacterial resistance to the drug.

Uses

Treatment of diseases

• Tuberculosis in combination with other anti-TB drugs. It is not the first line treatment, except in medically under-served populations where the cost of more expensive treatments are prohibitive.
• Plague (Yersinia pestis) has historically been treated with it as the first line treatment. It is approved for this purpose by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
• Infective endocarditis caused by enterococcus when the organism is not sensitive to Gentamicin
• In veterinary medicine, streptomycin is the first line antibiotic for use against gram negative bacteria in large animals (horses, cattle, sheep etc.). It is commonly combined with procaine penicillin for intramuscular injection.

While streptomycin is traditionally given intramuscularly (indeed, in many countries it is only licensed to be used intramuscularly), the drug may also be administered intravenously.

Pesticide

Streptomycin is also used as a pesticide, to combat the growth of bacteria, fungi, and algae. Streptomycin controls bacterial and fungal diseases of certain fruit, vegetables, seed, and ornamental crops, and controls algae in ornamental ponds and aquaria. A major use is in the control of fireblight on apple and pear trees. As in medical applications, extensive use can be associated with the development of resistant strains.

Cell Culture

Streptomycin, in combination with penicillin, is used in a standard antibiotic cocktail to prevent bacterial infection in cell culture.

See also

• Philip D'Arcy Hart

Further reading

• Kingston, William (2004). "Streptomycin, Schatz v. Waksman, and the Balance of Credit for Discovery". Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. 59 (3): 441–462. doi:10.1093/jhmas/jrh091. PMID 15270337. 
• Mistiaen, Veronique (2 November 2002). "Time, and the great healer". The Guardian. . The history behind the discovery of streptomycin.
• EPA R.E.D. Facts sheet on use of streptomycin as a pesticide.

ar:ستربتوميسين zh:鏈黴素