What Is Spiramycin?
Spiramycin is a macrolide antibiotic with the chemical formula C43H74N2O14, recognized for its application in preventing congenital toxoplasmosis in fetuses when administered to pregnant women infected with toxoplasma. Discovered in 1954 from a soil actinomycete in France, spiramycin’s effectiveness against toxoplasmosis led to its approval in Japan in 2018.
Uses of Spiramycin
Spiramycin is primarily used to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis, an infection that poses severe risks to fetuses, including stillbirth, miscarriage, and developmental disorders. It operates as a bacteriostatic agent, inhibiting bacterial growth by preventing protein synthesis within bacterial cells.
Properties of Spiramycin
By binding to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes, spiramycin halts protein biosynthesis, acting as a bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal agent. It is metabolized to neospiramycin in the stomach and is excreted primarily via bile. During pregnancy, it can cross the placenta, reaching the fetus. Common side effects include gastrointestinal issues, allergic reactions, and liver dysfunction.
Structure of Spiramycin
Spiramycin features a 16-membered macrolide ring, characteristic of macrolide antibiotics, which includes three sugar structures that enhance its water solubility, stability, and antibacterial activity.
Other Information on Spiramycin
How Spiramycin Is Manufactured
Produced via fermentation using Streptomyces ambofaciens, spiramycin is extracted from cultures of this actinomycete. Its complex structure necessitates biological synthesis, followed by purification through chromatography and recrystallization.