Hygromycin B

Risk

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Hygromycin B is an antibiotic active substance, which is formed by bacteria of the species Streptomyces hygroscopicus. It is an aminoglycoside, which is effective against bacteria, fungi and higher eukaryotic cells. The effect is based on inhibition of protein biosynthesis.

History

Hygromycin B was designed in the 1950s and has since found application as a feed additive in the breeding of pigs and chickens as an anti- worm agents. In the EU, hygromycin B is not approved as a feed additive. The hygromycin B -producing bacterium Streptomyces hygroscopicus in 1953 isolated from a soil sample. Resistance genes were discovered in the early 80s of the last century.

Use in Research

In the laboratory routine, the antibiotic is applied to the selection of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells with hygromycin - resistance gene. Resistance is mediated by a kinase which hygromycin B inactivated by phosphorylation. Since the discovery of the hygromycin resistance gene, hygromycin B is used as one of the standard antibiotics for selection.