Penicillium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Penicillium |
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| Penicillium sp. | |
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Eurotiales
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Penicillium
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Penicillium is a type of fungi that is super important in nature. It's also used a lot in making food and medicines.
These fungi are famous for making penicillin. Penicillin is a special medicine called an antibiotic. It helps to kill or stop the growth of certain bacteria inside your body. There are more than 300 different kinds of Penicillium fungi!
Contents
What is Penicillium Like?
The main part of Penicillium is called a mycelium. This is like a big network of tiny, branching threads called hyphae. These threads are usually clear and have many nuclei (the control centers of cells).
Penicillium fungi spread mainly through tiny spores called conidiospores. These spores are often green, which is why you might see green mold on old food.
How Does Penicillium Reproduce?
Penicillium can also reproduce in another way, called sexual reproduction. This involves making special spores called ascospores. These ascospores are found inside tiny sacs called asci. Each ascus usually holds eight ascospores.
Where Does Penicillium Live?
Penicillium fungi are found everywhere in the soil. They like cool and mild weather. You can often find them where there's lots of natural stuff for them to eat.
Penicillium in Nature
Many Penicillium species are saprophytes. This means they get their food from dead or decaying organic material. They are a common type of mould. You might see them growing on old bread or fruit.
They are one of the main reasons why food goes bad. Some types of Penicillium can even make toxins. These toxins help them fight off bacteria and other fungi.
Penicillium can grow on seeds and other stored foods. They do this by spreading their spores through the air. They can grow well even when it's not very humid, as long as the food is a bit moist. Some kinds of Penicillium look blue and make old bread look fuzzy and blue.
Different Kinds of Penicillium
There are many different species (kinds) of Penicillium. Here are a few important ones:
- Penicillium chrysogenum: This is the famous one that makes the antibiotic penicillin. It used to be called Penicillium notatum.
- Penicillium marneffei: This species is found in Southeast Asia. It can cause serious infections in people with weak immune systems, like those with AIDS. It's special because it can change its shape depending on the temperature.
- Penicillium camemberti: This type is used to make yummy Camembert and Brie cheeses. It helps give them their special flavor and soft rind.
- Penicillium candida: This is another species used in making Brie and Camembert cheeses.
- Penicillium glaucum: This one is used to make Gorgonzola cheese. It gives Gorgonzola its unique blue veins.
- Penicillium roqueforti: This species is used to make Roquefort and Danish Blue cheese. It's also used in some Gorgonzola cheeses now.
Images for kids
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Some penicillium mold on mandarin oranges, probably Penicillium digitatum.
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Penicillium sp. seen under a microscope (10 × 100 magnification) with a special blue stain.
See also
In Spanish: Penicillium para niños
