AH7, a non-polyenic antifungal antibiotic produced by a new strain of Streptosporangium roseum.

An antibiotic (AH7) produced by Streptosporangium roseum strain 214 was investigated. This compound was extracted with chloroform from the filtrate culture and purified using thin-layer chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography procedures. The antibiotic strongly inhibited the growth of several strains of fungi and bacteria known to be plant and human pathogens. This compound differed from all other antibiotics known to be synthesized by Streptosporangium spp. Some of its chemical and physical properties resembled those of maytansines produced by Nocardia but the antibiotic AH7 has only antibacterial and antitumoral activities.