Tuberculosis is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tubercu…
Tuberculosis is caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which currently latently infects nearly a third of the world’s population. It is thought that host fatty acids can serve as a sole carbon source during infection. How does M. tuberculosis most likely metabolize fatty acids as an energy source?
Read DetailsThiomicrospira denitrificans grows by gaining energy from th…
Thiomicrospira denitrificans grows by gaining energy from the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S), thiosulfate ((S2O3)2-), or elemental sulfur (S), using oxygen or nitrate (NO3-) as electron acceptors. It uses CO2 as its carbon source. This organism would be classified as ______.
Read DetailsFollowing from the previous question about C. perfringens an…
Following from the previous question about C. perfringens and gas gangrene, consider that this species lacks a TCA cycle and obtains ATP via fermentation. Knowing what you do about metabolism, what is the most likely explanation for how C. perfringens is able to maintain such a rapid doubling time while infecting a human host?
Read DetailsFollowing from the previous question, C. jejuni is a chemoor…
Following from the previous question, C. jejuni is a chemoorganoheterotroph that relies on oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP. Experiments have shown that under near-anaerobic conditions (1% or less oxygen), C. jejuni will migrate to 20 mM concentrations of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), fumarate, nitrate, nitrite, and hydrogen peroxide, but will not do this when 6% or higher oxygen is present. Why would C. jejuni demonstrate this behavior?
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