Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic produced by Streptomyces bacteria through fermentation. It works by inhibiting protein synthesis in bacteria. The document outlines the production of tetracycline through fermentation, including the use of Streptomyces bacteria, basic media components, fermentation parameters like temperature and pH, and the growth phases. It also describes the isolation, purification, and recovery processes to obtain the purified form of tetracycline, including filtration, adsorption, precipitation, and crystallization steps. Large scale bioreactors made of stainless steel with agitation and aeration systems are commonly used for fermentation.