Aerotolerant anaerobe

Aerotolerant anaerobes (pronunciation: air-o-tol-er-ant an-uh-rohb) are a type of microorganism that can survive in the presence of oxygen but do not use it to produce energy. The term is derived from the Greek words 'aero' meaning air, 'tolerant' meaning enduring, and 'anaerobe' meaning living without air.

Characteristics

Aerotolerant anaerobes are indifferent to oxygen, meaning they can grow in its presence or absence. Unlike obligate anaerobes, which are harmed by the presence of oxygen, aerotolerant anaerobes are not affected. They do not use oxygen for respiration, but they have enzymes that detoxify oxygen's reactive byproducts.

Examples

Some examples of aerotolerant anaerobes include certain species of the bacteria Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Enterococcus. These organisms are often found in the human gut and oral microbiota.

Medical relevance

Aerotolerant anaerobes are of significant medical relevance. Some species, such as certain types of Streptococcus, can cause infections in humans. Understanding the growth requirements of these organisms can aid in their identification and treatment.

Related terms

Obligate anaerobes: Microorganisms that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen.
Facultative anaerobes: Microorganisms that can survive with or without oxygen, and can use oxygen to produce energy if it is available.
Microaerophiles: Microorganisms that require oxygen to survive, but at lower concentrations than are present in the atmosphere.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Aerotolerant anaerobe
Wikipedia's article - Aerotolerant anaerobe

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Aerotolerant anaerobe