Question

Full potential and chemistry of penicillin as an effective antibiotic was established by

• A. Alexander Fleming
• B. Ernest Chain
• C. Howard Florey
• D. Both b and c

Answer 1

The correct option is D Both b and c

Antibiotics are the organic compounds produced by microorganisms in low concentration which inhibits the growth of or kills the pathogenic organism. The term antibiotic was first defined by Walksman, and the very first antibiotic Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming from a genus of fungus Penicillium notatum. However the discovery of the first antibiotic was done by him but the full potential, action and chemistry of penicillin was established much later by Ernest Chain and Howard Florey.

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin but could not isolate the pure penicillin from the mold juice. With reference to theraputic benefits, he published his findings in in British Journal of Experimental Pathology in 1929. Later in 1939, Ernest Chain and Howard Florey successfully isolated penicillin and developed it into a life-saving drug. For the discovery of penicillin and its curative effect in various infectious diseases, three of them jointly awarded the Nobel prize in physiology and medicine in the year 1945.