A patient who has recently suffered a myocardial infarction is brought to the hospital. The doctors administer a bioactive molecule to remove clots from his blood vessels. Identify the microbe that produces this therapeutic enzyme.

Step-by-step solution

The patient requires a clot buster to remove clots from the blood vessels following a myocardial infarction. The enzyme used for this purpose is streptokinase. Streptokinase is produced by the bacterium Streptococcus and modified by genetic engineering. Monascus purpureus produces statins, which are blood cholesterol-lowering agents. Trichoderma polysporum produces cyclosporin A, which is used as an immunosuppressive agent. Penicillium notatum produces the antibiotic penicillin. Answer: Streptococcus