Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase is required for Salmonella typhimurium virulence and resistance to reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates

• Published in: Infection and immunity 1999, Vol.67 (1), p.436-438
• Main Authors: LUNDBERG, B. E, WOLF, R. E, DINAUER, M. C, YISHENG XU, FANG, F. C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase - physiology; Glutathione - analogs & derivatives; Glutathione - pharmacology; Hydrogen Peroxide - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Microbiology; Molecular and Cellular Pathogenesis; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitroso Compounds - pharmacology; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Phagocytes - drug effects; Phagocytes - metabolism; Phagocytes - microbiology; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; S-Nitrosoglutathione; Salmonella typhimurium; Salmonella typhimurium - drug effects; Salmonella typhimurium - enzymology; Salmonella typhimurium - pathogenicity; Virulence
• ISSN: 0019-9567; 1098-5522
• DOI: 10.1128/IAI.67.1.436-438.1999

Salmonella typhimurium zwf mutants lacking glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity have increased susceptibility to reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates as well as attenuated virulence in mice. Abrogation of the phagocyte respiratory burst oxidase during experimental infection with zwf mutant Salmonella causes a prompt restoration of virulence, while inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase results in delayed lethality. These observations suggest that G6PD-dependent bacterial antioxidant defenses play an important pathogenic role during early salmonellosis and additionally may help to antagonize NO-dependent antimicrobial mechanisms later in the course of infection.