question archive An organism isolated from the blood of a sick patient with a unknown blood disorder was isolated and subjected to the following 3 biochemical tests: Catalase test - When placed in hydrogen peroxide did not produce bubbles Nitrate test - A broth culture of the organism turned red when the Nitrate reagents were added to the broth
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An organism isolated from the blood of a sick patient with a unknown blood disorder was isolated and subjected to the following 3 biochemical tests: Catalase test - When placed in hydrogen peroxide did not produce bubbles Nitrate test - A broth culture of the organism turned red when the Nitrate reagents were added to the broth. The sterile control did not turn red when the reagents were added Thioglycollate broth - This thick broth contains a molecule which reacts with oxygen to remove it, creating a gradient of O2 (present at the top, absent at the bottom): When the organism was incubated in this broth, it grew everywhere throughout the tube Given these 3 test results, provide the likely metabolic profile of this organism

Nitrate-reducing facultative anaerobe
Step-by-step explanation
The lack of bubbles in the catalase test indicates catalase negative which is either anaerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria.
The change in color in the nitrate test indicates ability to reduce nitrate to nitrite, this is also suggestive of a facultative anaerobe.
Growth throughout Thioglycollate broth is indicative of a facultative anaerobe. If it was a strict anaerobe you would see growth mostly near the bottom. If it was a strict aerobe you'd see growth only near the top.
When combined with the catalase test this strongly suggests that the organism is a facultative anaerobe

