anaerobe
/ə'neiroub/ Cách viết khác : (anaerobium) /ə'neiroubjəm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- An organism that lives without free oxygen: An anaerobe is a living thing, especially a type of bacterium, that grows and lives in environments that lack air or free oxygen (O₂). Some anaerobes are harmed by the presence of oxygen.
Usage and Examples
- Noun:
- Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism, is a dangerous anaerobe.
- The scientist studied how the anaerobe produced energy through fermentation.
- Anaerobic digesters use various anaerobes to break down organic waste and produce biogas.
Advanced Usage
- Obligate (strict) anaerobe: An organism that cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Oxygen is toxic to it.
- The obligate anaerobe Bacteroides fragilis is a common part of the human gut flora.
- Facultative anaerobe: An organism that can grow with or without oxygen. It uses oxygen if available but can switch to anaerobic methods.
- Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobe; it can live in your intestines (low oxygen) or on a lab plate (with oxygen).
- Aerotolerant anaerobe: An organism that does not use oxygen for growth but can tolerate its presence.
- Lactobacillus, used in making yogurt, is an aerotolerant anaerobe.
Variants and Related Words
- Anaerobic (adjective): Relating to, involving, or being an organism that lives without oxygen, or a process that occurs without oxygen.
- Anaerobic respiration is a way cells generate energy without oxygen.
- He does anaerobic exercises like weightlifting.
- Anaerobiosis (noun): The state or mode of life of an organism in an oxygen-free environment.
Synonyms
- Anaerobic organism: A direct synonym.
- Non-aerobic organism: A descriptive synonym emphasizing the lack of oxygen requirement.
Antonyms
- Aerobe: An organism that requires free oxygen to live.
- Obligate aerobe: An organism that must have oxygen to survive.
Noun
- an organism (especially a bacterium) that does not require air or free oxygen to live