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Which microorganisms produce antibiotics naturally?
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Antibiotic
Learn why antibiotics are important and how to prevent their overuse.
Antibiotics are chemical substances produced naturally by living organisms, primarily microorganisms, to control the growth of competing organisms in their environment, such as in soil.1
The two primary groups of microorganisms that produce antibiotics are:
- Bacteria: Certain soil-dwelling bacteria are prolific producers of antibiotics. A notable example is the genus Streptomyces, which produces broad-spectrum antibiotics including streptomycin, erythromycin, and chloramphenicol.2
- Fungi: Many antibiotics are derived from fungi. The most famous discovery occurred in 1928 when Alexander Fleming identified that the mold Penicillium notatum produced a substance—later named penicillin—that inhibited the growth of bacteria.3
These organisms utilize these compounds as a natural defense mechanism to survive in complex microbial communities.12