catalase & peroxidase

[DrGeek]

Catalase & peroxidase metabolize hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. So bacteria that have either one can live in an oxygen environment. Streptococcus species can only ferment They have peroxidase but don't have catalase. Is Streptococcus an obligate anaerobe?? Is catalase needed for oxidative respiration?

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[Ramzi]

Catalase & peroxidase metabolize hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen. So bacteria that have either one can live in an oxygen environment. Streptococcus species can only ferment They have peroxidase but don't have catalase. Is Streptococcus an obligate anaerobe?? Is catalase needed for oxidative respiration?

Being an obligate or facultative anaerobe refers to the ability to tolerate oxygen. Streptococci can tolerate oxygen because they have superoxide dismutase, therefore they are facultative anaerobes, but they cant respire aerobically because they do not have cytochromes (catalase).