Tyrothricin
Tyrothricin
Tyrothricin (pronounced: tie-ro-thri-sin) is a mixture of antibiotics that are produced by the bacterium Bacillus brevis. It is composed of two cyclic polypeptides, tyrocidine and gramicidin.
Etymology
The term "Tyrothricin" is derived from the Greek words "tyros" meaning cheese and "thrix" meaning hair. This is in reference to the bacterium Bacillus brevis, which was first isolated from cheese and has a hair-like structure.
Usage
Tyrothricin is used topically as an antibacterial agent in the treatment of skin and mucous membrane infections. It is effective against a wide range of Gram-positive bacteria and some Gram-negative bacteria. However, it is not used systemically due to its high toxicity.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic: A substance used to inhibit the growth of or destroy microorganisms.
- Bacillus brevis: A species of bacterium that produces tyrothricin.
- Tyrocidine: A cyclic polypeptide that is a component of tyrothricin.
- Gramicidin: Another cyclic polypeptide that is a component of tyrothricin.
- Gram-positive bacteria: A group of bacteria that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining.
- Gram-negative bacteria: A group of bacteria that do not retain the crystal violet stain used in Gram staining.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Tyrothricin
- Wikipedia's article - Tyrothricin
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