Fungi produce several antibiotics. What is the name of the first antibiotic discovered?

• A. Streptomycin
• B. Erythromycin
• C. Penicillin
• D. Tetracycline

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of antibiotic discovery, focusing on the role of fungi in producing antibiotics.
2. Recall that the first antibiotic discovered was derived from a fungus, specifically the mold Penicillium notatum.
3. Identify that this first antibiotic is named Penicillin, which revolutionized medicine by effectively treating bacterial infections.
4. Compare the other options: Streptomycin and Erythromycin are antibiotics but were discovered later and are produced by bacteria, not fungi; Tetracycline is also a later discovery and bacterial in origin.
5. Conclude that Penicillin is the correct answer as the first antibiotic discovered from fungi.