Who discovered the antibacterial properties of a Penicillium fungus in 1929?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is: (D) Alexander Fleming

Explanation:

• In 1929, Alexander Fleming, a Scottish bacteriologist, discovered that a Penicillium notatum fungus produced a substance that killed or inhibited the growth of certain bacteria.

• This substance was later named penicillin, marking the beginning of the antibiotic era in modern medicine.

Information Booster:

• Fleming noticed clear zones around fungal colonies where Staphylococcus bacteria could not grow.

• Penicillin became the first widely used antibiotic during World War II, saving millions of lives.

• He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945, along with Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain.

• Penicillin works by inhibiting cell wall synthesis in bacteria.

• Its discovery revolutionized infection treatment, especially for pneumonia, syphilis, and scarlet fever.

Additional Information:

• Antonie van Leeuwenhoek – Discovered microscopic organisms using handcrafted microscopes in the 17th century, but not antibiotics.

• Paul Ehrlich – Known for the “magic bullet” theory and developed Salvarsan, the first effective treatment for syphilis, but not penicillin.

• Marie Curie – Renowned for her work on radioactivity, not microbiology or antibiotics.