Why organisms like neisseria meningitidis can ferment maltose?
Neisseria meningitidis is a heterotrophic gram-negative diplococcal bacterium which is a normal part of the nasopharyngeal flora in up to 40% of adults. One of its traits is its ability to engage in fermentation under anaerobic conditions by catabolizing maltose. It is able to perform fermentation because it possesses an endogenous organic electron acceptor. Thus, Neisseria meningitidis is able to exist under conditions where oxygen is unavailable, giving it a selective survival advantage.
