- Microaerophile
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A microaerophile is a microorganism that requires oxygen to survive, but requires environments containing lower levels of oxygen than are present in the atmosphere (~20% concentration). Many microphiles are also capnophiles, as they require an elevated concentration of carbon dioxide. In the laboratory they can be easily cultivated in a candle jar. A candle jar is a container into which a lit candle is introduced before sealing the container's airtight lid. The candle's flame burns until extinguished by oxygen deprivation, which creates a carbon dioxide-rich, oxygen-poor atmosphere in the jar.
Contents
Examples
Examples include:
- Borrelia burgdorferi, a species of spirochaete bacteria that causes Lyme disease in humans.
- Helicobacter pylori, a species of proteobacteria that has been linked to peptic ulcers and some types of gastritis. Some don't consider it a true obligate microaerophile.[1]
- Campylobacter has been described as microaerophilic.[2]
- Streptococcus intermedius has also been described as microaerophilic.
- Streptococcus pyogenes, a well known microaerophile that causes streptococcal pharyngitis.
See also
- Aerotolerant organism
- Aerobic organism
- Anaerobic organism
- Facultative anaerobic organism
- Fermentation (biochemistry)
References
- ^ Bury-Moné S, Kaakoush NO, Asencio C, et al. (August 2006). "Is Helicobacter pylori a true microaerophile?". Helicobacter 11 (4): 296–303. doi:10.1111/j.1523-5378.2006.00413.x. PMID 16882333. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=1083-4389&date=2006&volume=11&issue=4&spage=296.
- ^ Fernie DS, Park RW (August 1977). "The isolation and nature of campylobacters (microaerophilic vibrios) from laboratory and wild rodents". J. Med. Microbiol. 10 (3): 325–9. doi:10.1099/00222615-10-3-325. PMID 330861.
External links
Pathogenic bacteria Bacterial disease · Coley's Toxins · Exotoxin · Lysogenic cycle
Human flora Substrate preference Oxygen preference Structures Cell wall: Peptidoglycan (NAM, NAG, DAP)
Gram-positive bacteria only: Teichoic acid · Lipoteichoic acid · Endospore
Gram-negative bacteria only: Bacterial outer membrane (Porin, Lipopolysaccharide) · Periplasmic space
Mycobacteria only: Arabinogalactan · Mycolic acidOutside envelopeCompositeShapes Categories:- Microbial growth and nutrition
- Microbiology stubs
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