Frontispiece: The Nargenicin Family of Oxa‐Bridged Macrolide Antibiotics

The polyene macrolide antibiotics.

The mode of action of the polyene antibiotics is reviewed together with the effect of genetic and environmental factors on sensitive organisms. The future prospects of polyenes in the treatment of systemic mycoses are considered.

Enzymatic phosphorylation of macrolide antibiotics.

Five macrolide antibiotics (erythromycin A, 1; oleandomycin, 3a; tylosin, 4a; spiramycins, 5a; leucomycin A3, 6a) have been phosphorylated enzymatically using cell-free extracts derived from Streptomyces coelicolor UC 5240. The necessary cofactors and the rates of the conversion have been determined.

Stereochemical problems in macrolide antibiotics.

Since 1950, well over fifty macrolides have been derived from various Actinomycetes in screening laboratories located at many corners of the world. Among the most intensely studied macrolides are those produced on a commercial scale (erythromycin, oleandomycin, tylosin, leucomycin and spiramycin) as well as examples of particular historical/scientific importance (Magnamycin, pikromycin, narbomy...

Macrolide antibiotics and pulmonary inflammation.

Many clinically effective therapeutic agents can exhibit localized and systemic effects that are manifestly different from their intended primary pharmacological mode of action. Macrolide antibiotics such as erythromycin and its derivatives are no exception. In addition to their antibacterial action, this class of antibiotics exhibits anti-inflammatory activity in a variety of airway diseases s...

Macrolide antibiotics and cystic fibrosis.