Abstract
In 1950 Finlay et al. isolated from soil a new actinomycete, Streptomyces rimosus. which was found to produce an antibiotic substance. This substance, which they named terramycin, showed an Inhibitory action against gram-positive cocci, gram-negative enteric organisms, and aerobic spore-forming bacilli. | Paper chromatography studies were undertaken by Regna and Solomons (195>0) to determine the biological homogeneity of terramycin. Upon examining the paper chroma tog rams the authors stated that crude preparations of terramycin contain inactive contaminants which,, along with the tprramycin, exhibited fluorescence under ultraviolet light. | Following its purification, terramycin was used primarily for arresting an infection having a bacterial etiology. Since then, terramycin has played a very important role in medical and biological research; not only as a therapeutic agent, but as an aid In the detection of neoplastic tissue.