Modification of bacterial respiration by a macromolecular polyanionic antibiotic produced by a marine Alteromonas.

A macromolecular polyanionic antibiotic produced by a marine bacterium belonging to the genus Alteromonas causes a large modification in bacterial respiration when added to the culture of several bacterial species in their early stage of growth. This antibiotic induces an increase of oxygen uptake and the production of hydrogen peroxide. The latter fact explains the high sensitivity of bacteria with low catalase activity and the antagonistic effect of pure catalase on antibiosis. The antibiotic could act at the level of the respiratory chain by setting up a flavinic respiration.