Follow
Penicillin is an antibiotic group. They are usually made from Penicillium fungi (mainly Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium rubens). Most penicillins are naturally derived. However, only two natural penicillin’s are used as food: penicillin G and penicillin V.
Penicillin was the first drug to work against bacterial infections; which was effective against many serious infections such as syphilis. Penicillin is still widely used; although bacteria have now developed many types of resistance against it. All penicillin’s are beta-lactam antibiotics and are used against bacteria, usually effective in treating infections caused by gram-positive bacteria.
Penicillin works by inhibiting the synthesis of peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. Penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic. The term “penam” is used to describe the basic chemical structure of penicillin antibiotic members. The molecular formula of this chemical structure is R-C9H11N2O4S. Where R is a variable side chain.
Penicillin is often used as Penicillin G, Procaine Penicillin, Benzethine Penicillin, and Penicillin V.
Procaine Penicillin, Benzethine Penicillin gives similar efficacy, but Benzethine Penicillin has longer duration of action. Penicillin V is less effective against gram-negative bacteria, while benzethine penicillin is more effective. Penicillin V can be given orally, but benzethine penicillin is also given by injection.
Penicillin is produced during the biological activity of Penicillinium species and is produced when fungal growth is inhibited. It is not produced during the normal growth of the fungus. Penicillin production is restricted to the Shill pathway of interaction:
In 1929, Scottish scientist and Nobel laureate Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin. Its discovery from an accident.
The development of penicillin for medicinal use is credited to Australian Howard Walter Florey, along with German Nobel laureates Ernst & Chen and English biochemist Norman Heatley.
