Description:
Fosfomycin is an antibiotic used in a single dose to treat urinary tract, respiratory, intraabdominal, obstetric-gynecologic, CNS and osetoarticular infections (PubChem and [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14961135|Gobernato et al., 2003]). It is successful in 80% of cases and shows very few side effects ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14961135|Gobernato et al., 2003]). Adverse side effects, mainly liver toxicity, have been observed in patients with cystic fibrosis ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11440232|Durupt et al., 2001]). Bacterial resistance has been observed ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14677948|Fillgrove et al., 2003] and Marchese et al., 2003). Because of microbial resistance, some other drugs can no longer be recommended as reliable agents. Fosfomycin remains a drug of choice for the eradication of many uncomplicated infections. This antibiotic is biosynthesized by Streptomyces from (S)-2-hydroxypropylphosphonic acid ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15315444|Liu et al., 2004]). The biodegradation was initially studied in Listeria monocytogenese, but similar degradation pathways occur in many bacterial pathogens. When biodegraded, Mn(II)-dependent thiol transferases add cysteine or glutathiol residues across the epoxy bond ([http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14677948|Fillgrove et al., 2003]).