Merck + Co., Inc.

Tanya MacNeil

Douglas J MacNeil

Stanley L Streicher

Philip S Paress

Carolyn L Ruby

Keith M Gewain

Patrice H Gibbons

Avermectin compounds are glycosylated at the 4',13- Or 14a-positions by adding the avermectin compounds to the fermentation medium of a novel strain of Streptomyces avermitilis. The 13-hydroxy and 14a-hydroxy methyl groups of the avermectin compound are glycosylated with a glycosyl moiety, specifically an oleandrose group. The new strain offers the added advantage of not producing any C5-O-methylation products. The compounds are potent anthelmintic and antiparasite agents, and compositions for such uses are also disclosed.

Strain of streptomyces avermitilis capable of glycosylating avermectin

There are disclosed plasmids containing DNA isolated from Streptomyces avermitilis, the microorganism which is used to prepare avermectin compounds, identified as pAT1, pVE650 pVE855, pVE859, pVE1446, pVE923, and pVE924 which contain the genetic information for the biosynthesis of the avermectins. Methods for the isolation of such plasmid and for the manipulation of the plasmids to alter the formation of the avermectin compound are also disclosed.

Cloning genes from Streptomyces avermitilis for avermectin biosynthesis

Novel plasmid pVE1, deletion mutants thereof, recombinant derivatives thereof, which is the same as the genome or nucleic acid of such plasmids and derivatives of such genome, which are useful as recombinant DNA cloning vectors into host organisms, such as bacteria, for example, Streptomyces avermitilis; portions of such plasmid genome are additionally useful as adjuncts in recombinant DNA cloning procedures, for examples: 1. to permit the maintenance of cloned DNA in the host, either in an integrated state or as an autonomous element; 2. to serve as promoters for increasing expression of endogenous or foreign genes wherein said promoters are ligated to such genes or otherwise serve as promoters; and 3. to serve as regulatory elements for achieving control over endogenous and foreign gene expression; as cloning vectors, pVE1 its deletion mutants, and other derivatives serve for the amplification and transfer of DNA sequences (genes) coding for useful functions, such modified cloning vectors are introduced into the recipient organism by conjugation or transformation; wherein the hybrid DNA functions in an integrated mode and/or in a plasmid mode.

Growing community of inventors

Westfield, NJ, United States of America

Tanya MacNeil