The widely used antibiotic Penicillin, is produced by:

Key Points

• Penicillin is a widely used antibiotic discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928.
• It is produced by the fungus Penicillium notatum or Penicillium chrysogenum.
• Penicillin works by inhibiting the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, making it effective against many bacterial infections.
• It was the first antibiotic to be mass-produced, revolutionizing medicine and saving countless lives.

Important Points

• Penicillin is primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria.
• It marked the beginning of the antibiotic era and was extensively used during World War II.
• Resistance to penicillin has emerged over time, leading to the development of other antibiotics.
• Penicillin derivatives, such as amoxicillin and ampicillin, are used in various applications today.

Additional Information

• An algae: Algae are photosynthetic organisms found in aquatic environments. They are not known to produce antibiotics like penicillin but are studied for their potential in biofuel production and other applications.
• A bacterium: Some antibiotics, such as streptomycin and tetracycline, are produced by bacteria. However, penicillin is specifically produced by a fungus.
• Synthetic means: Antibiotics can be synthesized chemically in laboratories, but penicillin was originally discovered as a natural product from the fungus Penicillium.