antibiosis
biology
Quick Summary
Antibiosis is a biological interaction where one organism inhibits or kills another, while remaining unaffected itself. This occurs through chemical secretions. A classic example is the mold Penicillium, which produces penicillin, a substance harmful to certain bacteria. This phenomenon is a form of amensalism, where one species is harmed and the other is unaffected. Antibiosis is a key mechanism by which organisms in complex environments, like soil, control competing microorganisms.123
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
4 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
