Identification and Development of Penicillin

  • Year 1920

  • The Discovery of Penicillium Notatum

    Alexander Fleming noticed blue-green mould on a plate of culture- he concluded that the mould released a substance inhibiting bacteria growth. He discovered Penicillium notatum.
  • Year 1930

  • The Production of Stable Penicillium

    Howard Florey created a skilled biochemical research team to produce a stable penicillin
  • Year 1940

  • Period: to

    The Development of the Isolate Strains of the Penicillium Fungus

    Scientists at the USDA Northern Regional research Laboratory (NRRL) developed methods for isolating higher yielding strains of the penicillium fungus
  • Period: to

    The Development of Deep-Tank Fermentation

    Scientists developed the deep-tank fermentation method to produce large quantities of pharmaceutical grade penicillin
  • The Chemical Structure of Penicillin

    Dorothy Hodgkin created the correct chemical structure of penicillin
  • Year 1950

  • The Development of Penicillin for Oral Administration

    Hans Margreiter and Ernst Brandl developed the first acid-stable penicillin for oral administration
  • The Development of The Chemical Synthesis of Penicillin

    Chemist John Sheehan at MIT developed the first chemical synthesis of penicillin