Penicillium chrysogenum spore and hyphae

Penicillium chrysogenum (also known as Penicillium notatum) is the fungus that the antibiotic penicillin is produced from. The purification of penicillin, the solving of its chemical structure, and the proof of its therapeutic value were all conducted in the Sir William Dunn School by a team led by Howard Florey. 2016 marks the 75th anniversary of the administration of the first therapeutic dose of the antibiotic. This image is a cross-section of a Penicillium hyphae (bottom) with a spore sitting on top. By using transmission electron microscopy, all organelles and the internal structure of the fungus can be seen in detail.