In pictures: Penicillin: The first 'wonder drug'

Penicillium needs oxygen so the fungus is grown on the surface of a shallow nutrient soup.

These specially designed flat, stackable porcelain vessels, proved ideal in the early production of penicillin.

The sterilised containers ere plugged with cotton wool to stop the air bringing in common bacteria which destroy the antibiotic.

Photo credit: National Media Museum/SSPL