The word "tyrothricin" is a mouthful, and its spelling can be quite challenging. It is pronounced as /taɪrəʊˈθrɪsɪn/ and has eight letters. The 'tyro' part of the word comes from the Greek word 'tyros,' meaning cheese, as the antibiotic was originally discovered in cheese molds. The 'thricin' part is derived from 'thrix,' meaning hair. This is because one of the active substances in tyrothricin can kill hair cells. So, while the spelling of the word may not be intuitive, its roots provide clues to its origins.
Tyrothricin is a polypeptide antibiotic complex composed of two components, tyrocidine and gramicidin. It is produced by the bacterium Bacillus brevis, which is commonly found in soil. Tyrothricin has been used as an antibacterial agent in medicine and veterinary medicine for many years.
Tyrothricin exerts its bactericidal effects by disrupting the integrity of bacterial cell membranes. It selectively binds to the lipids present in the bacterial cell membranes and forms pores or channels. These pores disrupt the barrier function of the membrane, leading to the leakage of intracellular components and eventually causing the death of the target bacteria. Due to its mechanism of action, tyrothricin displays activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species.
In medical practice, tyrothricin has been used topically as a treatment for superficial skin infections, wounds, and certain types of dermatitis. It is commonly available in the form of creams, ointments, or powders for external use. Additionally, tyrothricin has been utilized in veterinary medicine for the treatment of various bacterial infections in animals.
It is important to note that tyrothricin is not suitable for internal use or systemic administration, as it can cause toxicity and adverse effects. Due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, the use of tyrothricin has diminished over time, and it is now primarily used as a second-line treatment option in specific cases where other antibiotics have proven ineffective.
The word "tyrothricin" is derived from the combination of two components: "tyro-" and "-thricin".
"Tyro-" comes from the Greek word "tyro", which means "cheese". This refers to the initial discovery of tyrothricin from a sample of cheese, where it was extracted in 1939 by American microbiologist René Dubos.
The second component "-thricin" refers to the antibiotic nature of tyrothricin. The suffix "-thricin" is reminiscent of "hygromycin B", a similar antibiotic derived from the soil bacteria Streptomyces hygroscopicus.
Therefore, the word "tyrothricin" combines the reference to its initial discovery in cheese with the suffix "-thricin", indicating its antibiotic properties.