ABOVE: Streptomyces coelicolor colonies producing actinorhodin
TOBIAS KIESER, JOHN INNES CENTRE
Many of the antibiotics used in clinical medicine are derived from a bacterial genus called Streptomyces. Actinorhodin, an antibiotic produced by S. coelicolor, has a distinctive blue color at alkaline pH, but turns red under acidic conditions.
A photograph of S. coelicolor in all its blue splendor is among multiple images, sculptures, movies, and biological specimens on display in the Bacterial World exhibit at Oxford University Museum of Natural History until May 28, 2019.
The Bacterial World exhibit contains a 30-meter-long, inflatable sculpture of E. coli, created by artist Luke Jerram.
AMORET SPOONER
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