Alexander Fleming is one of the most famous scientifists in the world, due to its discovery of penicillin. Penicillin was the first antibiotic used in great amounts to treat bacterial infections, saving millions of lifes.

Fleming discovered also lysozyme, an antibacterial enzyme present in mucous secretions.

Alexander Fleming was born at Lochfield (Scotland) on August 6th, 1881. At the age of 14 he moved to London, where he studied medicine. His scientific work was developed at St. Mary's Medical School, London University.

Fleming discoverd penicillin in 1928, when he observed that growth of Staphylococcus bacteria was inhibited by a Penicillium mould that accidentaly contaminated the culture plate. He named penicillin the active substance produced by the Penicillium mould.

Fleming left the study of penicillin to study lysozyme, that seemed to him more promising. Luckily, Chain and Florey continued the study of penicillin, proving in clinical tests its effectiveness in the treatment of diverse bacterial infections. At the end of World War II, a lot of hurt soldiers of the allied troops saved their lives thanks to penicillin.

Fleming, Chain and Florey won the 1945 Nobel prize of physiology and medicine.

Alexander Fleming died in 1955.

More information:

• Nobel e-Museum.
• A Science Odissey.
• Time 100.