Home » Alexander Fleming

Alexander Fleming

Pencillin

The Mold Alexander Fleming Made that Produced the First Antibiotic was Kept Frozen Since 1945

Sir Alexander Flemming was a Scottish physician and microbiologist popularly known for discovering the first and most widely used antibiotic; penicillin. But did you know that the original mold Fleming used to create penicillin is still kept frozen? Alexander Fleming’s mold, which created the first antibiotic, penicillin, has been kept frozen since 1945. Its genomes […]

The Mold Alexander Fleming Made that Produced the First Antibiotic was Kept Frozen Since 1945 Read More »

Alexander Fleming’s mold could not produce penicillin fast enough for mass production; it wasn’t until 15 years later that lab worker ‘Mouldy’ Mary Hunt tested a moldy cantaloupe in a grocery store and discovered the strain that is used to produce all penicillin today

Mouldy Mary and the Cantaloupe It’s a well known story and example of medical serendipity. Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) a Scottish microbiologist who returned to his laboratory following his summer holiday and found his growth plates of Staphylococcal bacteria had been contaminated with mould. Wherever the mould was growing the bacterial cells had been killed. Antibiotics

Alexander Fleming’s mold could not produce penicillin fast enough for mass production; it wasn’t until 15 years later that lab worker ‘Mouldy’ Mary Hunt tested a moldy cantaloupe in a grocery store and discovered the strain that is used to produce all penicillin today Read More »