Streptomyces – The Industrious Antibiotic Producer

Like other actinomycetes, the Streptomyces group of microbes straddles the somewhat artificial boundary between bacteria and fungi. Growth on culture plates looks ‘fungal’ and the organism produces spores and germtubes that look like mycelia.  Nonetheless these soil organisms are bacteria and of great interest to microbiologists as the producers of many antibiotics Continue reading Streptomyces – The Industrious Antibiotic Producer

Brilacidin – QIDP Drug At a Critical Juncture

At around this time (July 2015), Cellceutix is expected to hammer out a Phase 3 program for brilacidin, its defensin-mimetic and host-defense protein (HDP) mimic structurally similar to magainin, with FDA. Brilacidin is certainly an interesting novel compound, coming from a new class, with a unique mode of action.  It has Continue reading Brilacidin – QIDP Drug At a Critical Juncture

Vancomycin vs TMP/SMX for MRSA – Not the Final Word

Vancomycin got a bad reputation since the early 90ies when it became clear that it was slow to provide clinical improvement and microbiologic cure in MRSA patients.  It was associated with prolonged bacteremia even when combined with rifampin [1].  And for MSSA, anti-staph penicillins like nafcillin were always the better choice. Then, Continue reading Vancomycin vs TMP/SMX for MRSA – Not the Final Word