Question

Explain how the following scenario might have influenced the development of the antibiotic penicillin.

Situation: In 1897, The Institut Pasteur receives the thesis of Duchesne regarding the Penicillium mold, Contribution to
the study of vital competition in micro-organisms: antagonism between moulds and microbes, and decides to publish it
instead of ignore it.

Answer 1

The discovery of the Penicillium mold by Alexander Fleming greatly influenced the development of the antibiotic penicillin. Fleming observed that the mold inhibited the growth of staphylococci bacteria, leading to the identification of penicillin as the first natural antibiotic. This discovery revolutionized the field of medicine and led to the widespread use of antibiotics in treating bacterial infections.

Step-by-step explanation:

The discovery of the Penicillium mold by Alexander Fleming in 1928 greatly influenced the development of the antibiotic penicillin. Fleming observed that the mold inhibited the growth of staphylococci bacteria, leading to the identification of penicillin as the first natural antibiotic.

Following Fleming's discovery, Ernst Chain and Howard Florey conducted extensive research to isolate penicillin from the mold and study its properties. They developed techniques to produce large quantities of penicillin, making it available for the treatment of bacterial infections in 1944.

This discovery and subsequent research on penicillin's antimicrobial properties revolutionized the field of medicine and led to the widespread use of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections.