Oxygenic Classification of Microbes

Neisseria spp.

Aerobe

Causative agents of meningitis and gonorrhea

Pseudomonas fluorescens

Aerobe

Found in soil and water; degrades pollutants such as TNT and aromatic hydrocarbons

Mycobacterium leprae

Aerobe

Causative agent of leprosy

Azotobacter spp.

Aerobe

Found in soil; fixes atmospheric nitrogen

Rhizoium spp.

Aerobe

Found in soil; functions as plant symbionts

Azoarcus tolulyticus

Anaerobe

Degrades toluene

Bacteroides spp.

Anaerobe

Normal gastrointestinal flora

Clostridium spp.

Anaerobe

Found in soil; causative agents of tetanus, botulism, and gas gangrene

Actinomyces israelii

Anaerobe

Found in soil; used to synthesize antibiotics

Desulfovibrio spp.

Anaerobe

Reduces sulfate

Escherichia coli

Facultative Microbe

Normal gastrointestinal flora; additional pathogenic strains

Sacharomyces cerevisiae

Facultative Microbe

Yeast; used in baking

Bacillus anthracis

Facultative Microbe

Causative agent of anthrax

Vibrio cholerae

Facultative Microbe

Causative agent of cholera

staphylococcus spp.

Facultative Microbe

Found in skin; causative agents of boils, impetigo, toxic shock syndrome, etc.

Helicobacter pylori

Microaerophilic Microbe

Causative agents of boils of gastric ulcers

Lactobacillus spp.

Microaerophilic Microbe

Used to ferment milk to form yogurt

Campylobacter spp.

Microaerophilic Microbe

Causative agents of gastroenteritis

Treponema pallidum

Microaerophilic Microbe

Causative agents of boils of syphilis