Stefanie:
Sorry no one responded. As other in subsequent strings point out,
antibiotics are substances produced by one organism that has a detriment
effect on another. By definition, this would included any substance
from ethanol to penicillin (and lysozyme) but in common usage it is used
to refer to complex and unique organic molecules that have therapeutic
use/potential such as the latter. An antimicrobial agent is a
functional term that would include the concept of antibiotic as well as
disinfectant active and similarly active synthetic chemicals .
Yes, such a substance produced by a metazoan would be considered an
antibiotic.
Stefanie Greve wrote:
>> Hello!
> Not long ago I tried to get an answer according to wether antibiotics
> have to be produced by microorganisms in order to be called antibiotics.
> But alas, there was no one there who was able and willing to give me an
> accurate answer to my question. So here I come and try again.
> Obviously there is a difference between an antimicrobial agent in
> general and an antibiotic as penicillin or something similar. Otherwise
> there would not be another name, would it? Furthermore, I would not call
> lysozyme an antibiotic. Is this at least correct?
> The original question referred to wether antimicrobial agents produced
> by metazoae can be called antibiotics or not.
> I do not think this question is trivial, if so, please let me know - I
> will immedeately stop bothering you.
>> Many thanks in advance
>> Stefanie Greve
