streptothricin

9.9

A medicine made from bacteria found in soil that kills other bacteria

noun
/strɛpˈtoʊθrɪsɪn/

Specialized

: estreptotricina

Researchers discovered that streptothricin can inhibit the growth of certain bacteria in laboratory tests.

Examples

The soil sample yielded an actinomycete that produced streptothricin as a secondary metabolite.
Despite its promising antibacterial activity, streptothricin is rarely used due to its toxicity in humans.
The researcher isolated streptothricin from soil samples.
Dr. Smith studied the effects of streptothricin on bacterial infections.
In lab experiments, scientists found that streptothricin effectively kills several strains of bacteria.
The medical study highlighted the potential of streptothricin as an antibiotic despite its side effects.
Researchers at the university are exploring how streptothricin can be used to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Surface Forms

streptothricin singular

streptothricins plural

Morphology

streptothricin = Streptothrix (opaque) = streptothric + in

A technical antibiotic name derived from a bacterial genus plus the chemical suffix '-in', which is not predictable for average learners.

Etymology

Streptothricin comes from the name of the soil bacterium that makes it: strepto- means 'twisted' (as in streptococcus) and thrix means 'hair', giving the image of thread-like, twisted cells. So streptothricin is an antibiotic named after that 'twisted-hair' bacterium, which helps you remember it is a bacterial product used to fight other bacteria.