A definition that I use and is supported by a microbiology professor I
know is "the use of an organic compound as an terminal electron
acceptor." Since some strict anaerobes will ferment, I'd say the terms
are non-interchangeable. Also, I'm not positive without cracking a
book, but I'd guess that nitrate respiration in the absence of air would
allow an aerobe to be a facultative anaerobe but not necessarily a
fermenter. Does this sound OK?
Tom
P.S. Of course this has nothing to do with industrial "fermentation."
Erwinia wrote:
<I've always had this a understanding of this term. Can someone define
<it
<for me and can it be interchanged with the term facultative anaerobic?
