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Nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic

Teixobactin

Teixobactin is an 11-residue nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic from the soil bacterium Eleftheria terrae, discovered in 2015 using the iChip to grow previously unculturable microbes.

By The Peptides Codex Editorial TeamIndividual review date not recorded

Page data last changed: . Chemistry registry snapshot: . Registry refreshes and identity assessments are separate from scientific content review.

Length
11 aa
Class
Nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic
Function
Binds lipid II and lipid III to block cell-wall and teichoic-acid synthesis
Context
Research antibiotic studied against Gram-positive pathogens

Discovered by culturing 'unculturable' soil bacteria, it killed pathogens with no detectable resistance in early studies.

Part of the Foundational & therapeutic peptides cluster

Overview

Teixobactin is an 11-residue nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic from the soil bacterium Eleftheria terrae, discovered in 2015 using the iChip to grow previously unculturable microbes. It binds the conserved cell-wall precursors lipid II and lipid III, blocking both peptidoglycan and teichoic-acid synthesis, and no resistant mutants emerged in early laboratory studies. This page is educational and not medical advice.

Source & context

Biological / chemical source: Soil bacterium Eleftheria terrae (isolated using the iChip)

Primary research or clinical context: Research antibiotic studied against Gram-positive pathogens

Discovery via the iChip

Teixobactin came from screening bacteria grown in situ in soil using the isolation chip (iChip), which coaxes microbes that will not grow on standard plates. Its 2015 report in Nature highlighted how untapped environmental bacteria remain a source of new antibiotic chemistry.

Mechanism and prospects

The peptide contains unusual residues, including enduracididine, and binds the pyrophosphate-sugar portion of lipid II and lipid III. Because these targets are non-protein and highly conserved, resistance was slow to appear in preclinical work against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is inactive against Gram-negative bacteria and remains investigational.

Structure & chemistry

Molecular identity & reference confidence

Source-supported reference

Reference values are taken from the cited molecular record or curated profile. A database match is not independent laboratory verification; modifications, counter-ions, and formulations can change the measured mass.

Molecular form
Teixobactin (source record; form not independently established)
Species
Not established by this molecular identity audit
Termini (N / C)
Not specified / Not specified

Average reference mass

Reference policy updated: 2026-10-05

Molecular formula
C58H95N15O15
Average reference mass
≈ 1,242.5
Identifiers

Chemistry values: PubChem, IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology · fetched 2026-10-01.

Concentration math

Teixobactin — reconstitution calculator

Enter how much peptide is in the vial and how much diluent (e.g. bacteriostatic water) is added. The tool returns the resulting solution concentration — and, for any amount you type, the volume it corresponds to. This is educational arithmetic, not a dosing recommendation.

Reference form: Teixobactin (source record; form not independently established)Average reference mass: 1,242.5 Da

Syringe graduation
Solution concentration
5 mg/mL5,000 mcg/mL
mcg

Enter an amount to see the volume it corresponds to.

Educational concentration mathematics only. This tool does not recommend a dose, amount, or protocol, and nothing here is medical advice. Many peptides are not authorized by Health Canada for human use — see our reconstitution and bacteriostatic-water guides for context.

Open the Teixobactin calculator on its own page →

FAQ about Teixobactin

What is Teixobactin?+

Teixobactin is an 11-residue nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic from the soil bacterium Eleftheria terrae, discovered in 2015 using the iChip to grow previously unculturable microbes. It binds the conserved cell-wall precursors lipid II and lipid III, blocking both peptidoglycan and teichoic-acid synthesis, and no resistant mutants emerged in early laboratory studies. This page is educational and not medical advice.

What Canadian product status is recorded for Teixobactin?+

Canadian product status for Teixobactin has not been verified in this profile. No verified record here does not mean no authorization exists. Status depends on the product, formulation and use; consult Health Canada's product records.

What is the typical length of Teixobactin?+

Teixobactin is commonly described as approximately 11 amino acids (Nonribosomal depsipeptide antibiotic).

Related peptides

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ActRIIB decoy-receptor fusion protein
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Larazotide
Tight-junction regulator peptide
Larazotide (larazotide acetate, AT-1001) is a synthetic eight-amino-acid peptide studied as a regulator of intestinal tight junctions, the seals between gut lining cells. It was investigated in celiac disease research. Its Phase 3 program was discontinued and it is not approved; this page is educational only.
Lixisenatide
Incretin mimetic (GLP-1 receptor agonist)
Lixisenatide is a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist built on the exendin-4 scaffold rather than on human GLP-1. Marketed as Lyxumia and Adlyxin, it is an approved prescription medicine in the EU and United States and a useful case study in how venom-derived peptides are adapted into once-daily therapeutics.
Calcitonin
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References & further reading

  1. 1.Morris et al. (2020). A Fluorescent Teixobactin Analogue. ACS Chem Biol
  2. 2.Lawrence et al. (2025). Teixobactin: A Resistance-Evading Antibiotic for Treating Anthrax. ACS Infect Dis
  3. 3.Guo et al. (2018). Chemistry and Biology of Teixobactin. Chemistry
  4. 4.Yang et al. (2016). Elucidation of the Teixobactin Pharmacophore. ACS Chem Biol
  5. 5.Karas et al. (2020). Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of teixobactin. Ann N Y Acad Sci
  6. 6.Morris et al. (2022). Synthesis and application of fluorescent teixobactin analogs. Methods Enzymol
  7. 7.Jones et al. (2024). Investigation of Isobactin Analogues of Teixobactin. ACS Med Chem Lett
  8. 8.McCarthy (2019). Teixobactin: a novel anti-infective agent. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther
  9. 9.PubMed — A new antibiotic kills pathogens without detectable resistance (Nature 2015)
  10. 10.Wikipedia — Teixobactin
Disclaimer: Educational content only. Not medical advice. Not instructions for human use. Research peptides and unapproved products may be restricted or illegal to market for human consumption in your jurisdiction. Consult qualified professionals and applicable law.
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