Hi all, I am currently studying microbiology. I was taught that E.coli, like all members of Enterobacteriaceae, is oxidase negative. However, isn't E.coli capable of aerobic respiration, hence would have an oxidase to reduce oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor?
Thank you in advance for clarifying my doubts.
Arizaldo Castro
Hello, Nathanael,
The oxidase test for bacteria is specific for the detection of a particular oxidase, cytochrome c oxidase. Other oxidases are present in nature, hence, your observation. Not all microbes which are negative to the oxidase test are strictly anaerobes.
The E.coli strain you have tested probably expresses and has a different oxidase enzyme for ETC.
-Arizaldo
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