Natamycin is a naturally-occurring macrolide polyene antifungal agent produced during fermentation by the bacterium S. natalensis, commonly found in soil. With minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 4-64 μM, natamycin is used to treat fungal infections, including Candida, Aspergillus, Cephalosporium, Fusarium, and Penicillium.[1],[2],[3] Natamycin blocks fungal growth by binding specifically to ergosterol with an apparent affinity of ~100 μM, but it does not permeabilize cell membranes as other polyene antibiotics are known to do.[2] Natamycin is also used in the food industry as a preservative.[4]
Reference:
[1]. Lalitha, P., Vijaykumar, R., Prajna, N.V., et al. In vitro natamycin susceptibility of ocular isolates of Fusarium and Aspergillus species: Comparison of commercially formulated natamycin eye drops to pharmaceutical-grade powder. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 46(10), 3477-3478 (2008).
[2]. te Welscher, Y.M., ten Napel, H.H., Balagué, M.M., et al. Natamycin blocks fungal growth by binding specifically to ergosterol without permeabilizing the membrane. The Journal of Biological Chemisty 283(10), 6393-6401 (2008).
[3]. Dong, X.H., Gao, W.J., and He, X.P. Antifungal efficacy of natamycin in experimental fusarium solani keratitis. Int.J.Ophthalmol. 5(2), 143-146 (2012).
[4]. de Vries, R.P., de Lange, E.S., Wösten, H.A.B., et al. Control and possible applications of a novel carrot-spoilage basidiomycete, Fibulorhizoctonia psychrophila. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 93, 407-413 (2008).
[1]. Lalitha, P., Vijaykumar, R., Prajna, N.V., et al. In vitro natamycin susceptibility of ocular isolates of Fusarium and Aspergillus species: Comparison of commercially formulated natamycin eye drops to pharmaceutical-grade powder. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 46(10), 3477-3478 (2008).
[2]. te Welscher, Y.M., ten Napel, H.H., Balagué, M.M., et al. Natamycin blocks fungal growth by binding specifically to ergosterol without permeabilizing the membrane. The Journal of Biological Chemisty 283(10), 6393-6401 (2008).
[3]. Dong, X.H., Gao, W.J., and He, X.P. Antifungal efficacy of natamycin in experimental fusarium solani keratitis. Int.J.Ophthalmol. 5(2), 143-146 (2012).
[4]. de Vries, R.P., de Lange, E.S., Wösten, H.A.B., et al. Control and possible applications of a novel carrot-spoilage basidiomycete, Fibulorhizoctonia psychrophila. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 93, 407-413 (2008).
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