virginiamycin

Virginiamycin is a streptogramin antibiotic composed of two main components—pristinamycin IIA (also known as virginiamycin M1) and virginiamycin S1. It is produced by various Streptomyces species. Virginiamycin acts by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis through binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit and inducing a conformational change at the peptidyl transferase center, thereby blocking peptide bond formation between peptidyl-tRNA and aminoacyl-tRNA[3][6][8]. The combination of its A (M1) and B (S1) components results in synergistic antibacterial activity. Virginiamycin is primarily used in veterinary medicine to prevent disease and promote growth in livestock such as cattle, swine, poultry, and also for preventing necrotic enteritis in chickens and treating laminitis in horses[7]. Additionally, it is used industrially to control microbial contamination during ethanol fermentation[1][3][6]. Chemically modified forms of virginiamycin have led to therapeutic drugs like quinupristin/dalfopristin[5].

Other names

virginiamycin M1virginiamycin S1pristinamycin IIAstaphylomycin Svirginiamycin factor S