 Optimum growth of E. coli occurs at 37 ° C ( 98 @.@ 6 ° F ) , but some laboratory strains can multiply at temperatures of up to 49 ° C ( 120 @.@ 2 ° F ) . Growth can be driven by aerobic or anaerobic respiration , using a large variety of redox pairs , including the oxidation of pyruvic acid , formic acid , hydrogen , and amino acids , and the reduction of substrates such as oxygen , nitrate , fumarate , dimethyl sulfoxide , and trimethylamine N @-@ oxide . E. coli is classified as a facultative anaerobe . It uses oxygen when it is present and available . It can however , continue to grow in the absence of oxygen using fermentation or anaerobic respiration . The ability to be able to continue growing in the absence of oxygen is an advantage to bacteria because their survival is increased in environments where water predominates . 
