Microaerophile
Microaerophile
Microaerophile (pronunciation: /ˌmaɪkrəʊˈɛərəʊfaɪl/) is a type of organism that requires oxygen to survive, but at lower levels than are present in the atmosphere.
Etymology
The term "Microaerophile" is derived from the Greek words "micros" meaning small, "aer" meaning air, and "philos" meaning loving.
Definition
A Microaerophile is an organism that grows in low oxygen concentrations, typically 2-10%, and may also require a certain level of carbon dioxide (around 10%) in its environment. This is less than the approximately 21% oxygen concentration found in the Earth's atmosphere.
Related Terms
- Aerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an oxygenated environment.
- Anaerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an environment without oxygen.
- Facultative Anaerobe: An organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present, but is capable of switching to fermentation or anaerobic respiration if oxygen is absent.
- Capnophile: Organisms that thrive in high concentrations of carbon dioxide.
Examples
Some examples of microaerophilic organisms include Campylobacter species, Helicobacter pylori, and some strains of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus. These organisms are often found in the gastrointestinal tract where the oxygen concentration is lower than atmospheric levels.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Microaerophile
- Wikipedia's article - Microaerophile
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