Obligate aerobe

Obligate aerobes are organisms that require oxygen to grow. Through cellular respiration, these organisms use oxygen to metabolize substances, like sugars or fats, to obtain energy. In this process, they produce carbon dioxide as a waste product.

Characteristics

Obligate aerobes cannot grow without oxygen. They gather energy from oxygen by using it to create ATP, the energy currency of the cell, in a process known as aerobic respiration. During this process, oxygen is reduced to water and the organism's food source is oxidized to release energy.

Examples

Examples of obligate aerobes include many bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nocardia asteroides, and fungi such as Aspergillus niger. Many eukaryotic organisms, such as humans and other animals, are also obligate aerobes.

Aerobic Respiration

Aerobic respiration is the process by which obligate aerobes use oxygen to produce energy. This process involves the oxidation of a molecule, such as glucose, to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy in the form of ATP.

See Also

• Anaerobic organism
• Facultative anaerobic organism
• Microaerophile
• Aerotolerant organism

References

Obligate aerobe Resources
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