Aerobes vs Anaerobes

Question 1

Obligate Aerobe

Answer 1

• Micrococcus luteus
• Requires oxygen for growth
• Carries out respiratory metabolism (aerobic metabolism)
• Oxygen is terminal electron acceptor

Question 2

Obligate Anaerobe

Answer 2

• Clostridium sporogenes
• Cannot tolerate oxygen
• uses either fermentation or anaerobic respiration
• sensitive to by-products of oxygen (peroxides and superoxides)

Question 3

Facultative Anaerobes

Answer 3

• E. coli
• use oxygen when present (aerobic respiration)
• can grow without oxygen (fermentation)