Kanamycin

The kanamycins are a group of structurally closely related glycosides. In all cases, the 2- deoxystreptamine (middle part in the structure) is linked to a glycoside of the 4- OH group at a 3-D - glucosamine.

Commercial kanamycin mainly contains kanamycin A, but is a mixture of the kanamycins A, B and C. It is a prescription aminoglycoside antibiotic from Streptomyces ( Streptomyces kanamyceticus ).

Tobramycin is structurally closely related to the kanamycins. It can be synthesized from kanamycin B, or alternatively obtained from fermentation broths of Streptomyces tenebarius. Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic well suited for the treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. It comes both as tobramycin intravenous short infusion (30 - 60min ) and in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization in the form of an inhalation therapy used.

Properties

Kanamycins are basic, strongly polar oligosaccharides. They are colorless, readily soluble in water and in the pH range of 2.2 to 10.0 solution stable.

Use

In Germany, kanamycin is used in human medicine as sulphate salt in the form of eye drops and ointments for the topical treatment of bacterial infections of the eye used (eg conjunctivitis ). In the United States of kanamycin and dosage forms for oral and parenteral application ( Kantrex ®) commercially.

In veterinary medicine, kanamycin is used as a reserve antibiotic for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections caused by kanamycin - susceptible organisms in dogs and cats as well as in combination with spiramycin in acute and chronic, resistant to other therapies mastitis. In human medicine, serves as a reserve antibiotic kanamycin, among others for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

It is also widely used in molecular biology as a selection antibiotic. Genetically modified micro-organisms, especially Escherichia coli are also fitted to the genes of interest with resistance genes to kanamycin. Thus, a read-out of changes is compared with native microorganisms allowed by culturing in kanamycin-containing media. To such transgenic E. coli to cultivate bacteria for example, selectively in LB medium, a final concentration of about 50 ug / ml of the medium is used. Other antibiotics such as ampicillin and tetracyclines are used for selection media.

In contrast to most other antibiotics kanamycin acts on plant toxic. Accordingly, it can be used also on kanamycin selection media when working with transgenic plants and a corresponding experiment.

Operation

Kanamycin penetrates the bacterial cell membranes by passive diffusion or by ( oxygen dependent ) active transport. It binds to the 30S subunit of membrane-associated ribosomes and thus inhibits bacterial protein synthesis.

Trade names

Kanamycin in Germany under the following names available:

• For topical use ( eye ointment / drops ): KANAMYCIN -POS
• KANAMYTREX

• A07AA08
• J01GB04
• S01AA24

Tobramycin is in Germany under the following names available:

• For inhalation in cystic fibrosis: TOBI
• Bramitob
• GERNEBCIN

• For topical application ( cream): TOBRAMAXIN

• For parenteral use Tobramycin B. Braun
• GERNEBCIN

• J01GB01
• S01AA12