mar 31, 1897 - Ernest Duchesne, the first scientist to discover the antibiotic properties of Penicillium.
Description:
He grew Penicillium glaucum (the mold used to make gorgonzola, stilton, and other blue cheeses) and placed some in tap water and some in distilled water. As expected, the mold died quickly in the tap water, but persisted in the distilled water. Duchesne grew more P. glaucum, only this time he added bacteria commonly found in water, S. typhi (the typhoid fever bug) or E. coli, directly to the culture. The result was the same as in tap water: the mold quickly died.
Added to timeline:
The discovery of Penicillin
Date:
