OBLIGATE ANAEROBE Meaning and
Definition
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An obligate anaerobe is a microorganism that is incapable of carrying out accurate metabolism in the presence of oxygen and thus can only survive in an environment devoid of oxygen. These organisms lack the enzymes necessary to carry out the process of aerobic respiration, which requires oxygen as a final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain.
Obligate anaerobes are mostly single-celled organisms like bacteria and archaea, as well as certain yeasts and some parasites. They have evolved to live in environments where oxygen availability is limited or non-existent, such as deep soil, sediments, waterlogged areas, and the human intestine. Unlike facultative anaerobes that can switch between aerobic and anaerobic respiration, obligate anaerobes have lost the ability to utilize oxygen as a source of energy.
These microorganisms typically utilize alternative metabolic pathways, such as fermentation, anaerobic respiration, or other anaerobic processes to obtain energy in the absence of oxygen. Fermentation allows them to break down complex organic molecules to produce energy and regenerate NAD+ for glycolysis. The byproducts of fermentation can vary depending on the organism, but common examples include ethanol, lactic acid, acetic acid, and hydrogen gas.
Due to their sensitivity to oxygen, obligate anaerobes are often cultured under strict anaerobic conditions, using specialized techniques and equipment such as an anaerobic chamber or anaerobic jars to create an oxygen-free environment.
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• A microorganism which can grow only in the presence of oxygen.
• A microorganism which can grow only in the absence of oxygen.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for OBLIGATE ANAEROBE
- ibligate anaerobe
- kbligate anaerobe
- lbligate anaerobe
- pbligate anaerobe
- 0bligate anaerobe
- 9bligate anaerobe
- ovligate anaerobe
- onligate anaerobe
- ohligate anaerobe
- ogligate anaerobe
- obkigate anaerobe
- obpigate anaerobe
- oboigate anaerobe
- oblugate anaerobe
- obljgate anaerobe
- oblkgate anaerobe
- oblogate anaerobe
- obl9gate anaerobe
- obl8gate anaerobe
Etymology of OBLIGATE ANAEROBE
The word "obligate anaerobe" can be broken down into two parts: "obligate" and "anaerobe".
The term "obligate" comes from the Latin word "obligatus", which means "bound" or "obliged". In the context of biology, it refers to organisms that are bound or obliged to a specific condition or requirement for survival.
The term "anaerobe" is derived from the Greek word "an-", meaning "without", and "aer", meaning "air". An "anaerobe" is an organism that can live and grow in the absence of oxygen.
Therefore, when combined, "obligate anaerobe" refers to an organism that is compelled or obligated to survive and thrive in an environment without oxygen.
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