Combined assay and determination of bioactivity of polyene antibiotics by flow nephelometry.

The application of a simple and inexpensive method, flow nephelometry, to the assay and measurement of relative bioactivity of polyene antibiotics is reported. The responding organism was Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCYC 239 in the mid-exponential phase of growth. The relative bioactivity of the polyene antibiotics is shown to be in the order lucensomycin > nystatin > candicidin > amphotericin B > pimaracin. The method is suitable f automation.