[Mutagenic activity of nitrothiazole compounds].

The mutagenic activities of different nitrothiazole derivatives were examined by the Ames-test. Such nitrothiazoles which display pronounced antibacterial properties against aerobic as well as anaerobic bacteria exert strong mutagenic activities. Thereby, both base pair substitution and frame-shift mutation occur. Reduction of the nitro-group of the nitrothiazoles by bacterial nitroreductases is a prerequisite for these mutagenic activities. In contrast, nitrothiazole derivatives which are unable to inhibit bacterial multiplication are also not mutagenic.