Penicillium

From ArticleWorld

Penicillium is a group of fungi that are recognizable by their dense brush-like spore-bearing structures. These species commonly occur in food and can make food inedible or dangerous for consumption. There are some of the Penicillium that are however beneficial to humans. These find uses in the making of cheese, sausages as well as in medicines.

Ecology

Penicillium fungi are very versatile as they are post-harvest pathogens. They are one of the most common causes of fruit and vegetable spoilage. Some of these fungi act on citrus fruit and cause an acceleration of ripening and causing the fruit to shrivel up and dry out. They have long lifespans and are very hardy even under adverse conditions. There are some rare species that can produce toxins that can affect immunosuppressed individuals. In addition to these harmful effects there are also several useful species. These include species that are used in cheese making, some that prevent fungal decay and species used in antibiotic medicines referred to as penicillin.

Penicillin

Penicillin is the term used to refer to the antibiotic form of Penicillium. When it was discovered many infections that were previously untreatable where cured. Infections such as strep, pneumonia, spinal meningitis, gas gangrene, diphtheria, syphilis, and gonorrhea were treated by penicillin and this came at just the right time with the advent of World War II. However there are some side effects associates with penicillin use. These include allergic reactions and hypersensitivity. Penicillin is classified according to two major categories. These are biosynthetic penicillin and semi-synthetic penicillin. The first is natural penicillin harvested from the mold through a fermentation process. The second has been modified structurally to perform a specific task.

Growing Penicillium

Penicillium moulds can be grown at home. These can be propagated on bread. The bread can be wiped on a surface in the home such as the floor. This results in the picking up of the microbes which are invisible to the naked eye. The bread should then be moistened and placed in a jar with a lid. This should be put in a dark and warm area such as a cupboard. After a few days a bluish mould will appear. This is penicillium. If a knife is passed through this mould and then used to cut lacerations into an orange, the orange if stored in a moist, dark, warm area develops a liquid, gold in color, after about a week. This is the chemical used to extract penicillin.