Penicillin is produced by which mold?

Penicillin is produced by which mold?

• A. Penicillium
• B. Aspergillus
• C. Saccharomyces
• D. Rhizopus

Answer: (A)

Penicillin is produced by a mold in the Penicillium genus. This antibiotic was first found when Penicillium notatum contaminated a Staphylococcus culture, revealing the drug, and later production was optimized with Penicillium chrysogenum to yield large amounts of penicillin. The other molds listed are not the sources of penicillin: Aspergillus is known for producing enzymes and aflatoxins, Saccharomyces is yeast used in baking and fermentation, and Rhizopus is a bread mold that doesn’t produce penicillin. So the mold responsible for penicillin production is Penicillium.

Penicillin is produced by a mold in the Penicillium genus. This antibiotic was first found when Penicillium notatum contaminated a Staphylococcus culture, revealing the drug, and later production was optimized with Penicillium chrysogenum to yield large amounts of penicillin. The other molds listed are not the sources of penicillin: Aspergillus is known for producing enzymes and aflatoxins, Saccharomyces is yeast used in baking and fermentation, and Rhizopus is a bread mold that doesn’t produce penicillin. So the mold responsible for penicillin production is Penicillium.