novobiocin

Thân thiện

A scientist examines a petri dish containing bacteria treated with novobiocin.

Definition

Noun: 1. An antibiotic drug: A specific antibiotic substance derived from certain actinomycete bacteria (Streptomyces niveus or Streptomyces spheroides), historically used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly staphylococci that were resistant to penicillin.

Usage

• Novobiocin functions as a countable noun when referring to doses or specific instances of the drug (e.g., ). It is more commonly used as a mass noun when referring to the substance in general.
• It is primarily used in medical, pharmacological, and historical scientific contexts.

Examples

• General Use:
  • Novobiocin was once a critical tool for treating penicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.
  • The doctor prescribed novobiocin for the stubborn bacterial infection.
• Scientific/Historical Context:
  • The study compared the efficacy of novobiocin to that of newer antibiotics.
  • Resistance to novobiocin has limited its clinical use in modern medicine.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Significance: The term is often used in historical discussions of antibiotic development. Its usage highlights the ongoing battle between drug discovery and bacterial resistance.
  • The rise of novobiocin in the 1950s provided a temporary solution to the growing problem of penicillin resistance.

Variants and Related Words

• Novobiocin sodium: The water-soluble sodium salt form of novobiocin, which was the typical formulation for clinical administration.
  • The patient received an injection of novobiocin sodium.

Synonyms

• Albamycin (a former brand/trade name for novobiocin).
• Cathomycin (a former brand/trade name for novobiocin).

Note: "Novobiocin" is a highly specific scientific term with very few direct synonyms outside of its historical brand names.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an antibiotic obtained from an actinomycete and used to treat infections by Gram-positive bacteria