Alexander Fleming

Synthetic Production of Penicillin TR1468

Sir Alexander Fleming (6 August 1881 – 11 March 1955) was a Scottish bacteriologist and pharmacologist. His best-known discoveries are the enzyme lysozyme in 1923 and the world's first antibiotic substance penicillin (from the mould Penicillium notatum) in 1928, for which he shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 with Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain. He wrote many articles on bacteriology, immunology, and chemotherapy.

Early Life and Education

Fleming was born on 6 August 1881 at Lochfield farm near Darvel, in Ayrshire, Scotland. He attended Louden Moor School, Darvel School, and Kilmarnock Academy before moving to London. Fleming completed his medical degree from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School, now part of Imperial College London, in 1906.

Career and Research

Fleming served throughout World War I as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and he witnessed the death of many soldiers from sepsis resulting from infected wounds. Following his military service, Fleming actively searched for anti-bacterial agents, having witnessed the death of many soldiers from sepsis resulting from infected wounds.

The discovery of penicillin occurred in 1928 when Fleming noticed that a petri dish containing Staphylococci had been mistakenly left open and was contaminated by blue-green mould from an open window, which formed a visible growth. There was a halo of inhibited bacterial growth around the mould. Fleming concluded that the mould was releasing a substance that was repressing the growth and causing the bacteria to lyse.

Recognition and Awards

Fleming, Florey and Chain were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1945 for their work on penicillin. Fleming was knighted by King George VI in 1944 and was a recipient of numerous other awards and honours for his groundbreaking work.

Personal Life and Death

Fleming was married to Sarah Marion McElroy of Killala, County Mayo, Ireland. Fleming died on 11 March 1955 and is buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

See Also

• Penicillin
• Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• Lysozyme

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