Saccharomyces cerevisiae & Ethanol

Fuel, beer, wine, scotch, and sanitizing alcohol are just some of the ways we use alcohol from yeast.

Corynebacterium glutamicum & L-Glutamine

A compound that helps to support the immune system.

Acremonium chrysogenum & Cephalosporin C

A commercial antibiotic from fungi.

Aspergillus terreus & Lovastatin

Statins, like this one, were discovered in fungi. They are cholesterol-lowering medications that save lives and are the most financially successful pharmaceutical of all time.

Oenococcus oeni & Lactic acid

The sour taste of yogurt, sour beer, and sourdough made possible by lactic acid bacteria. It’s also the monomer (part) used to make PLA for 3D printing— replacing our need for oil.

Penicillium roqueforti & 2-Heptanone

The flavor of blue-cheese, in blue cheese.

Acetobacter aceti & Acetic acid (vinegar)

The tart smell of your kombucha, the vinegary smell of your sour cream and vinegar chips, the bite in your all natural antimicrobial spray, these bacteria produce the acetic acid that we know as vinegar.

Tolypocladium inflatum & Cyclosporin A

An immunosuppressant critical for organ transplantation.

Saccharopolyspora erythraea & Erythromycin

A commercial antibiotic used for various infections including those that cause strep throat and bronchitis.

Pseudomonas denitrificans & Vitamin B12

A vitamin that plays an important role in human and animal nerve function, red blood cell formation, and DNA synthesis.

Aspergillus oryzae & Glucose

Fungi liberate glucose as part of the process of making soy sauce and sake. Koji, a fungus involved in this process, makes the glucose available from rice, which is then used by yeast to make alcohol in sake. A delightfully sweet partnerships.

G. oxydans, B. megaterium, K. vulgare & Vitamin C

A vitamin that plays an important role in the growth and repair of all body tissues and in keeping the immune system healthy.

Micromonospora purpurea & Gentamicin

An antibiotic used to treat everything from sepsis to endocarditis and pneumonia. It was particularly useful for combatting infections caused by deadly Pseudomonas bacteria. Prior to the discovery of this antibiotic, the discoverer in his job interview “if you don’t search for a new medicine, you absolutely will never find one.”

Aspergillus niger & Citric acid

A fungal byproduct used to preserve food and personal care products. Beyond its ability to provide a safe preservative, citric acid is used in electroporating, copper plating, metal cleaning, and printing inks. All thanks to a microbe that’s also known for molding grapes.

Penicillium rubens & Penicillin

An early antibiotic that has saved countless lives. The fungus it comes from was found on a moldy melon.

Streptomyces aureofaciens & Tetracycline

A commercial antibiotic used for treating everything from acne to pneumonia. Evidence suggests people in Sudan were using this medication nearly 1,500 years ago (in a therapeutic beer), but its modern-day use can be traced back to the 20th century. Tetracyclines are antibiotics that defends against Lyme disease, the plague, and anthrax.