What is an anaerobe?

An anaerobe is an organism that thrives in environments devoid of oxygen. These organisms have adapted to living in low or no-oxygen conditions, often utilizing different metabolic processes to derive energy. For instance, some anaerobes may engage in fermentation or anaerobic respiration, allowing them to survive and grow in environments such as deep soils, underwater sediments, or inside certain parts of the human body.

Understanding anaerobes is crucial in fields like medicine since they can sometimes be responsible for infections in humans. This is particularly important in clinical settings where the identification and treatment of anaerobic infections require specific approaches, including the use of appropriate antibiotics that target these types of organisms.