gramicidin

drug

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Gramicidin is a toxic, crystalline polypeptide antibiotic produced by the soil bacterium Bacillus brevis. It is effective against gram-positive bacteria and is used to treat local infections. Antibiotics, in general, are substances produced by living organisms that are harmful to other microorganisms. They are crucial in treating bacterial infections but are ineffective against viruses. Gramicidin was discovered in 1939 and, along with tyrocidin, was found to be too toxic for internal use, though valuable for superficial infections.12

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antibiotic
The first antibiotics
Two other early discoveries were gramicidin and tyrocidin, which are produced by bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Discovered in 1939 by French-born American microbiologist René Dubos, they were valuable in treating superficial infections but were too toxic for internal use.
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Two other early discoveries were gramicidin and tyrocidin, which are produced by bacteria of the genus Bacillus. Discovered in 1939 by French-born American microbiologist René Dubos, they were valuable in treating superficial infections but were too toxic for internal use.
Read More