Definition
noun
An anaerobe that does not require oxygen and lives only in anaerobic environment.
Supplement
Exposure to atmospheric levels of oxygen is lethal to obligate anaerobes. It is because they lack the enzymes like superoxide dismutase and catalase that would convert the lethal superoxide formed in their cells due to the presence of oxygen.
Obligate anaerobes may use fermentation or anaerobic respiration. Instead of oxygen, they use sulfate, nitrate, iron, manganese, mercury, or carbon monoxide as electron acceptors for respiration. The energy yield is lower than that in aerobic respiration.
Examples of obligate anaerobes are Bacteroides and Clostridium species.
Word origin: obligate » Latin obligātus (ptp. of obligāre), to bind + anaerobe » an- from Gk., “not, without,” + Greek āero-, from āēr, air.
Compare: obligate aerobe.
Dictionary > Obligate anaerobe
You will also like...

Cell Biology
The cell is defined as the fundamental, functional unit of life. Some organisms are comprised of only one cell whereas o..

Sensory Systems
A sensory system is a part of the nervous system consisting of sensory receptors that receive stimuli from the internal ..

Psychiatry & Mental Disorders
Different mental disorders are described here. Read this tutorial to get an overview of schizophrenia, affective mood di..

Regulation of Organic Metabolism, Growth and Energy Balance
The human body is capable of regulating growth and energy balance through various feedback mechanisms. Get to know the e..

Biological Cell Defense
Organisms employ different strategies to boost its defenses against antigens. Humans have an immune system to combat pat..

The Human Nervous System
The nervous system is essentially a biological information highway. This tutorial gives an overview of the nervous syste..