Kanosamine hydrochloride is an antibiotic which inhibits the growth of plant-pathogenic oomycetes, certain fungi and a few bacterial species. Kanosamine inhibits Phytophthora medicaginis M2913 and Aphanomyces euteiches WI-98 with MICs of 25 and 60 μg/mL, respectively.

Kanosamine demonstrates inhibitory effects on select bacterial species and exhibits moderate inhibition against certain fungi, specifically targeting pathogens of plants. Its accumulation in B. cereus UW85 culture supernatants peaks during sporulation and is further enhanced by ferric iron addition, yet diminished with phosphate in rich media. Remarkably, kanosamine's accumulation surges over 300% with the introduction of alfalfa seedling exudate into minimal medium. Notably, kanosamine also restricts the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and various human pathogenic fungi, including Candida albicans, leading to significant morphological alterations, septum formation inhibition, and cell agglutination. Its potent effect on plant-pathogenic oomycetes is evident, with Phytophthora medicaginis M2913 being exceptionally sensitive, whereas Pythium aphanidermatum Pa138 and Pythium torulosum A25a display lesser sensitivity, and Aphanomyces euteiches WI-98 exhibits intermediate sensitivity. Oomycetes show greater vulnerability to kanosamine at pH 7.0 compared to pH 5.6.