Talk:Discovery of penicillin

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Revision as of 22:21, 9 May 2008 by imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (→‎Verifiability of folk uses?: new section)
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 Definition:  Chronology of research into the use of antibiotics, derived from the mould Penicillium notatum. [d] [e]
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 Workgroup category:  Health Sciences [Categories OK]
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Verifiability of folk uses?

Many years ago, I worked with the chemistry and microbiological effects of penicillins. Very little benzylpenicillin was produced by the early Fleming and Westling strains of Penicillium notatum, with Penicillium chrysogenum, in submerged culture, being the modern producer.

Has there been experimental verification that some of the tales of folk use of moldy bread and the like would have a clinically significant effect? I can believe that random contamination of pure cultures, as Fleming observed, could inhibit growth, but I find it harder -- not impossible -- to believe that a natural form would have that much antibiotic activity. Howard C. Berkowitz 23:21, 9 May 2008 (CDT)

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