Obligate aerobe
An obligate aerobe is an organism that requires oxygen to grow. Through cellular respiration, these organisms use oxygen to metabolise substances, like sugars or fats, to obtain energy. In this type of respiration, oxygen serves as the terminal electron acceptor for the electron transport chain. Aerobic respiration has the advantage of yielding more energy (adenosine triphosphate or ATP) than fermentation or anaerobic respiration, but obligate aerobes are subject to high levels of oxidative stress.
| Group | Environment | O2 Effect | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic | Anaerobic | ||
| Obligate Aerobe | Growth | No growth | Required (used for aerobic respiration) |
| Obligate Anaerobe | No growth | Growth | Toxic |
| Facultative Anaerobe (Facultative Aerobe) | Growth | Growth | Not required for growth but utilized when available |
| Microaerophile | Growth if level is not too high | No growth | Required but at levels below 0.2 atm |
| Aerotolerant Anaerobe | Growth | Growth | Not required and not utilized |
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