Streptomycin and Related Antibiotics

Abstract

Streptomycin was isolated from cultures of Streptomyces griseus by Waksman and his colleagues in 1944 (Schatz et al., 1944). Subsequently, numerous other aminoglycosides, with similar actions as well as structures, were discovered. All are carbohydrate molecules containing one or more glycosidic linkages and a large number of hydrophilic groups, including several amino or guanidino groups (see review by Umezawa, 1975).