Penicillium
Medicine-yielding mold genus
Penicillium is a genus of fungi comprising several hundred species of molds found worldwide.
The name comes from the Latin for "little brush," describing the shape of the spore-bearing structures.
Alexander Fleming's discovery that Penicillium notatum killed bacteria led to the development of penicillin.
Penicillium roqueforti gives blue cheese its distinctive flavor and veining. (Lowercase penicillium refers to any fungus in this genus.)
Protected English veined cheese
- CamembertNormandy commune, cheese origin
- blue cheeseVeined, tangy cultured dairy
- cave-agedMatured in underground chambers
Person from Flanders
- discoveryAct of finding something
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
- pharmaceuticalManufactured medicinal compound
fermentation · antibiotic · Nobel Prize · medicine · cultivation · contamination
Spore-bearing organism
- sporesAsexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
- filamentousComposed of thin strands
microscopic · culture · reproduction · airborne · mold
Gradual organic breakdown
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- blue-greenHue between sky and grass
- sporesAsexual reproductive bodies
Taxonomic rank above species
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- ascomycotaSpore-sac fungal phylum
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- nomenclatureSystem of specialized terms
Stilton
Protected English veined cheese
- CamembertNormandy commune, cheese origin
- blue cheeseVeined, tangy cultured dairy
- cave-agedMatured in underground chambers
Fleming
Person from Flanders
- discoveryAct of finding something
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- infectionPathogen invasion causing illness
pharmaceutical · fermentation · antibiotic · Nobel Prize · medicine · cultivation · contamination
fungus
Spore-bearing organism
- sporesAsexual reproductive bodies
- hyphaeFungal filamentous structures
- colonyDependent territorial settlement
filamentous · microscopic · culture · reproduction · airborne · mold
decay
Gradual organic breakdown
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- fuzzySoft and unclear
- blue-greenHue between sky and grass
spores · citrus · preservatives · refrigeration · storage
genus
Taxonomic rank above species
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- ascomycotaSpore-sac fungal phylum
- taxonomyScience of categorical arrangement
- Fungus GeneraAmanita, Phallus, Puccinia
- fungimushroom, mushrooms, toadstool, toadstools, yeast
- moldsmolds, silicone molds, plastic molds, rubber molds, black mold
- GeneraHomo, Quercus, Rosa, Capra, Lepus
- airborne allergenspollen, dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, ragweed
- Cheesemakingrennet, cultures, curds, whey, starter culture
Penicilliumbacteria
Nucleus-free single-celled organisms
bacterium · prokaryote · virus · archaea · cyanobacteria
Penicilliumphytoplankton
Photosynthetic aquatic drifters
autotroph · cyanobacteria · algae · plants
- penicillin allergyImmune reaction to specific antibiotic
- Jewish penicillinCurative poultry broth
- penicillin treatmentTherapy using mold-derived antibacterial