Antibiotics For Non-Human Uses

Abstract

Antibiotics are often associated with medicinal uses only; still, 30 to 40 per cent of the total production of antibiotics are intended for non-human applications. The first and most important non-medical use is in animal production for disease prevention and growth promotion. Another important application is in plant protection to control various bacterial and fungal diseases. Antibiotics are also used to a limited extent in food preservation. These applications are giving rise to some concern because of their possible implications on public health. Antibiotics are valuable adjuncts in microbiological technique, especially in tissue culture. They contribute significantly to the advance in our knowledge of molecular biology. A new, less known, application of antibiotics is that of antimycin A in fish management. The teleocidal spectrum of antimycin A makes it a selective toxicant for eradication of undesirable species and replacement with game fish. High efficiency and rapid action even at low temperature, rapid and complete degradation are inherent characteristics of antimycin A. Treated waters are not hazardous to man, livestock, and wildlife other than fish. Recent work on the chemistry of antimycin A components, biosynthesis. mode of action and fermentation is reported. © 1971, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.