An anaerobic organism is any organism that does not need oxygen for growth and even dies in its presence. Obligate anaerobes will die when exposed to atmospheric levels of oxygen. Clostridium perfringens bacteria, which are commonly found in soil around the world, are obligate anaerobes. Infection of a wound by C. perfringens bacteria causes the disease gas gangrene. Obligate anaerobes use molecules other than oxygen as terminal electron acceptors.
Context:
A new bacteria was found at an excavation site in Egypt. At first there was a great alarm at the finding and people were deathly afraid of getting infected so all of the worker were quarantined, Eventually they were all released as no one got sick and the bacteria was later identified as an obligate anaerobe.
Q: Will an obligate anaerobe live or die when exposed to atmospheric levels of oxygen?