Novobiocin
chemical compound
Novobiocin, also known as albamycin, is an aminocoumarin antibiotic that is produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces niveus, which is a heterotypic synonym for S. spheroides a member of the class Actinomycetia. Other aminocoumarin antibiotics include clorobiocin and coumermycin A1. Novobiocin was first reported in the mid-1950s (then called streptonivicin).
Clinical use
It is active against Staphylococcus epidermidis and may be used to differentiate S. epidermidis from coagulase-negative Staphylococcus saprophyticus, which is resistant to novobiocin, in culture.
Novobiocin was licensed for clinical use under the tradename Albamycin (Upjohn) in the 1960s. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in
preclinical and clinical trials. The oral form of the drug has since been withdrawn from the market due to lack of efficacy. A combination product of novobiocin and tetracycline, sold by Upjohn under brand names such as Panalba and Albamycin-T, was in particular the subject of intense FDA scrutiny before it was finally taken off the market. Novobiocin is an effective antistaphylococcal agent used in the treatment of MRSA.
Mechanism of action
The molecular basis of action of novobiocin, and other related drugs clorobiocin and coumermycin A1, has been examined. Aminocoumarins are very potent inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase and work by targeting the GyrB subunit of the enzyme involved in energy transduction.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Novobiocin” is chemical compound. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Novobiocin, chemical and compound, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “chemical compound” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 5, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1639291. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference.
Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Novobiocin”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Novobiocin primary sources, Novobiocin archive and Novobiocin research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Novobiocin”?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
- Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Novobiocin” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.