Obligate aerobe
Obligate Aerobe
Obligate aerobe (pronunciation: /ˈɒblɪɡət ˈɛərəʊb/) refers to an organism that requires oxygen to grow. Through cellular respiration, these organisms use oxygen to metabolize substances, like sugars or fats, to obtain energy.
Etymology
The term "obligate aerobe" is derived from the Latin word "obligatus" meaning "bound" or "compelled", and the Greek word "aer" meaning "air" and "bios" meaning "life". Thus, it refers to organisms that are compelled to live in the presence of air, or more specifically, oxygen.
Characteristics
Obligate aerobes need oxygen because they cannot ferment or respire anaerobically. However, they are capable of using oxygen for growth and metabolic processes. These organisms are often found in environments rich in oxygen such as the atmosphere, bodies of water, and in the soil.
Some examples of obligate aerobes include Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, and Bacillus, a genus of bacteria that includes several harmful species.
Related Terms
- Anaerobe: An organism that can survive and grow in an oxygen-free environment.
- Facultative anaerobe: An organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present but is also capable of switching to fermentation or anaerobic respiration if oxygen is absent.
- Microaerophile: An organism that requires oxygen to survive, but also requires the concentrations of oxygen to be lower than that found in the atmosphere.
- Aerotolerant anaerobe: An organism that does not require oxygen for growth but tolerates its presence.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Obligate aerobe
- Wikipedia's article - Obligate aerobe
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