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AAT Bioquest

What are sources of antibiotics?

Posted July 29, 2022


Answer

Most antibiotics that are used today are produced in laboratories. However, they are formulated based on compounds that are found in natural sources. For example, Penicillin is acquired from Penicillium notatum, which is a naturally occurring mold. Some microbes found in nature produce compounds specifically to destroy bacteria in their environment that are competing for limited resources such as food and water. Other microbes are only capable of producing antibiotics in the laboratory. 

Additional resources

Sources of antibiotics: Hot springs

MycoLight™ Bacterial Viability Assay Kit