Energy for Life Some bacterial pathogens only cause disease when injected into tissue and are not able to grow or cause disease
on skin or other surface-exposed regions. One example is Clostridium tetani (tetanus). Which type of metabolism would you expect these pathogens to use?
Deep inside of human tissue, there is minimal oxygen. Oxygen is toxic to Clostridium tetani and other obligate anaerobes.
Chemoorganotrophy is a term used to denote the oxidation of organic chemicals to yield energy. When done with the presence of oxygen, it is aerobic and Anaerobic when done in the absence of oxygen.
