Anthracimycin: Difference between revisions
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==Chemical Structure of Anthracimycin== | ==Chemical Structure of Anthracimycin== | ||
Anthracimycin, according to Professor Fenical, has a "new and unique chemical structure." New antibiotics do not often have completely unique structures, which is what makes the discovery of anthracimycin particularly important. The technique used to determine the chemical structure of anthracimycin is called spectroscopy. | Anthracimycin, according to Professor Fenical, has a "new and unique chemical structure." New antibiotics do not often have completely unique structures, which is what makes the discovery of anthracimycin particularly important. Anthracimycin is composed of three rings. One has fourteen carbon atoms, and two have six carbon atoms each. | ||
The technique used to determine the chemical structure of anthracimycin is called spectroscopy. | |||
==Potential Uses== | ==Potential Uses== | ||
Anthracimycin has been shown to effectively kill anthrax | Anthracimycin has been shown to effectively kill gram positive bacteria such as anthrax, which has been used most notably as a bioterrorism weapon. It has not proven to be useful against gram-negative bacteria. Scientists also predict that it may be able to kill MRSA. .<br><br> | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== | ||
Revision as of 15:00, 7 November 2013
Introduction
Anthracimycin is an antibiotic discovered in 2012 that is able to kill gram-positive bacteria, namely anthrax (Bacillus Anthracis). It also may be able to kill methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and therefore is an extremely relevant research topic. MRSA is a growing problem in the modern world because of its astonishing capacity to develop drug resistance, so a new antibiotic that defends again MRSA would be a revolutionary discovery. It was found in an ocean microbe called Streptomyces sp. off the shores of Santa Barbara, California. Professor Wiliam Fenical, along with his team of researchers, discovered the compound.
Chemical Structure of Anthracimycin
Anthracimycin, according to Professor Fenical, has a "new and unique chemical structure." New antibiotics do not often have completely unique structures, which is what makes the discovery of anthracimycin particularly important. Anthracimycin is composed of three rings. One has fourteen carbon atoms, and two have six carbon atoms each.
The technique used to determine the chemical structure of anthracimycin is called spectroscopy.
Potential Uses
Anthracimycin has been shown to effectively kill gram positive bacteria such as anthrax, which has been used most notably as a bioterrorism weapon. It has not proven to be useful against gram-negative bacteria. Scientists also predict that it may be able to kill MRSA. .
Conclusion
Overall text length should be at least 1,000 words (before counting references), with at least 2 images. Include at least 5 references under Reference section.
References
Aguilera, Mario. "Compound Discovered at Sea Shows Potency against Anthrax." Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 17 July 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.
"Anthracimycin: New Antibiotic Kills Anthrax, MRSA." Scinews.com. 19 July 2013. Web. 05 Nov. 2013.
"Anthrax Killer from the Sea." Chemistry Views. 01 July 2013. Web. 7 Nov. 2013.
Edited by [Emily Vachon], student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 116 Information in Living Systems, 2013, Kenyon College.
