Microbes and Medicine

1.2.Streptomyces griseusPenicillium in Antibiotic Production

Streptomyces

Streptomyces is a bacteria found in the soil.

Streptomyces in Medicine

Streptomyces is used to make streptomycin sulfate.

Streptomycin sulfate is used to treat tuberculosis, the plague, and endocarditis (an inflammation of the heart)

Discovery of Streptomyces griseus

Streptomyces was discovered in 1944 by Selman Waksman and his team at Rutgers University.

It was the first know treatment of tuberculosis.

Selman Waksman

What Does Streptomyces Treat?

Streptomyces griseus is used to make streptomyces sulfate. Streptomyces sulfate disrupts the production of usual protein synthesis.

Streptomyces sulfate is used to treat a number of things, including Tuberculosis (tubercle bacillus ), Bacterial Endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves) and the plague.

Pros About Streptomycin

Streptomycin can treat both gram positive and gram negative bacteria (which tells the difference of a bacteria’s cell wall. Gram positive has a thick cell wall while gram negative is located between a lipid envelope and inner cell membrane)

It is effective against Tuberculosis.

Cons About Streptomyces

During treatment, there are some bacteria that are immune to streptomyces. In this case, streptomyces and another medication will have to be used to help fight it.

There are a number of side-effects from streptomyces, including: injury to the kidneys, nerve damage, nausea, vomiting, muscle twitches, fever, and rashes.

INDOOROUTDOOR

LABORATORY

Penicillium is a common fungi genera of which P. notatum and P. chrysogenum are species

Penicillium in Antibiotic Production

From an allergen mold commonly found growing on wet-buildings and rotten apples, a potent, bacterial-killing antibiotic has been discovered, extracted, purified and utilized successfully in the treatment of human bacterial infections.

The Antibiotic Penicillin from Penicillium:

Culmination of Scientific Effort

1800s

There were important observations on fungi, many which noted the ability of mold to inhibit bacterial growth.

The Antibiotic Penicillin from Penicillium:

Culmination of Scientific Effort

1900s Observations and Experiments1928 Discovery of Penicillium Extract: FlemingPurification, Human Testing: Flory and Chain

Fleming Florey Chain

The Antibiotic Penicillin

Natural toxins were extracted from Penicillium, purified and utilized as an antibiotic to fight bacterial infections in humans.

Penicillin is used in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Penicillin is not used in the treatment of viral infections.

The Science of Penicillin

Penicillin destroys bacteria by destroying the peptidoglycan portion of the bacterial cell wall.

The weak cell wall ruptures. The bacterium dies.

Penicillin: Positive Applications

WWIIMajor cause of death was septicemia, i.e., blood

poisoning.Other major causes of death included: strep throat,

scarlet fever, pneumonia, syphilis, meningitis, tonsillitis.

Successfully treated with penicillin.

Penicillin: Negative Implications

Allergic Reactions to Penicillin

Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)