Bordetella bronchiseptica responses to physiological reactive nitrogen and oxygen stresses

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2008 Jul;284(1):92-101. doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2008.01181.x. Epub 2008 May 6.

Abstract

Bordetella bronchiseptica can establish prolonged airway infection consistent with a highly developed ability to evade mammalian host immune responses. Upon initial interaction with the host upper respiratory tract mucosa, B. bronchiseptica are subjected to antimicrobial reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), effector molecules of the innate immune system. However, the responses of B. bronchiseptica to redox species at physiologically relevant concentrations (nM-microM) have not been investigated. Using predicted physiological concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), superoxide and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on low numbers of CFU of B. bronchiseptica, all redox active species displayed dose-dependent antimicrobial activity. Susceptibility to individual redox active species was significantly increased upon introduction of a second species at subantimicrobial concentrations. An increased bacteriostatic activity of NO was observed relative to H2O2. The understanding of Bordetella responses to physiologically relevant levels of exogenous RNS and ROS will aid in defining the role of endogenous production of these molecules in host innate immunity against Bordetella and other respiratory pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica / drug effects*
  • Bordetella bronchiseptica / physiology*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects*
  • Models, Biological
  • Nitric Oxide / pharmacology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Reactive Nitrogen Species / pharmacology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / pharmacology*
  • Superoxides / pharmacology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Reactive Nitrogen Species
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Superoxides
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Hydrogen Peroxide