Prevotella Oxygen Threshold Lab

Microbiological Breakthrough: Prevotella melaninogenica was historically categorized as a strict obligate anaerobe. Recent UMich empirical kinetics prove it actively replicates at 5–8% O₂ (doubling time ~3.8 hrs) and sustains viability under transient 21% atmospheric shock through active superoxide/peroxidase defense.

Tension: 6.5% O₂

Niche: Airway Mucus Niche

Status: Replicating (Exponential)

Ambient Oxygen Tension: 6.5% O₂ Range: 0.0% – 21.0%

Physiological Presets:

Antioxidant Defense (Catalase/ROS Scavenger) Pause Incubation Clock

Incubation Time: 24.0 hrs

Cellular Telemetry Exponential

Viable Count (CFU/mL)

8.45 × 10⁷

Doubling Time (T_d)

3.8 hrs

Oxidative Stress Index

0.12

Membrane Integrity

94.8%

100-Yr Classic Dogma: Lethal > 0.5% O₂

Empirical Observation: Robust Growth (5–8% O₂)

Microaerophilic Niche: Active catalase-peroxidase scavenging maintains high division rates inside upper airway mucus.

24h Growth Kinetic Curve (CFU/mL)