Penicillium

Penicillium is a genus of mold.

Some species are used in food production, for example Penicillium camemberti which is used to make Brie and Camembert cheeses.

People often develop allergies to molds of this genus.

Penicillium chrysogenum is especially useful - and dangerous - as it is used to produce the antibiotic Penicillin.

Some species of Penicillium are toxic, producing the carcinogenic toxin ochratoxin.

External Links

• Wikipedia on Penicillium
• Mycology Department, University of Toronto on Penicillium

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