van·co·my·cin (văng'kə-mī'sĭn, văn'kə-)
n.
An antibiotic, C₆₆H₇₅Cl₂N₉O₂₄, produced by the actinomycete Amycolaptosis orientalis (formerly Streptomyces orientalis), found in Indonesian and Indian soil, and effective against staphylococci and spirochetes.

[vanco-, of unknown origin + -MYCIN.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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