Question

The concept of antibiosis (antagonism between living organisms) was propounded by:
A. Waksman
B. Woodruff
C. Darwin
D. Vuillemin

Answer 1

Hint: Antibiosis is a type of interaction between two or more organisms, in which the existence of one of them is harmful to another. It can also be an antagonistic (hostile) association between the organism and the substances released by other organisms.

Complete answer: Antibiosis is an unsympathetic relationship between two or more organisms in which one organism destroys the other organism for sustaining its life. The term antibiosis, where anti means against and bio means life, as a whole it means against life and this term was introduced as a descriptive name for the phenomenon shown by antibacterial drugs by bacteriologist Vuillemin. It was the first time when antibiosis was studied in 1877 when Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch observed that an airborne bacillus had inhibited the growth of Bacillus anthracis. Various examples of antibiosis observed, but one of the most popular examples is the relationship between antibiotics and bacteria.
Waksman was a famous biochemist who was the world’s foremost authority on soil microbiology. He played a major role in initiating systematic research on the antibiotics among microbes and successfully discovered the antibiotic streptomycin which was the first specific effective agent in the treatment of tuberculosis.
Woodruff was an American soil microbiologist who is known for the discovery of actinomycin and the development of industrial production by fermentation of many natural products including cyanocobalamin, avermectins, and other important antibiotics.
Darwin was the first person whose contributions provided the foundation for understanding the great diversity among the living organisms around the world. He was the founder of modern evolution; he gave the theory of natural selection and called it a principle driving force in evolution.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D- Vuillemin

Note: The antibiotics also follow the principle of antibiosis, in which the antagonistic relationship between penicillium and bacteria is seen. Alexander Fleming discovered the antibiotic penicillin when he observed the phenomenon of antibiosis. He observed that the growth of fungi penicillium notatum inhibited the growth of bacteria on culture plates.