Capnophile

Capnophiles are extremophile microorganisms which thrive in the presence of high concentrations of carbon dioxide, or which require the presence of carbon dioxide to survive.

Capnophiles are found in environments such as the stomachs of ruminant animals. One example, "Mannheimia succiniciproducens", is known to fix carbon dioxide and produce succinic acid.

Another example of a capnophile is the Gram-negative "Aggregatibacter" spp. found in the mouth. "Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans" is one of the causes of aggressive juvenile periodontitis.

External links

* [http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v22/n10/full/nbt1010.html The genome sequence of the capnophilic rumen bacterium "Mannheimia succiniciproducens"] ("Nature" magazine)