This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Seib, K. L. Articles by McEwan, A. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Seib, K. L. Articles by McEwan, A. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, June 2006, p. 344-361, Vol. 70, No. 2
1092-2172/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/MMBR.00044-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Defenses against Oxidative Stress in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: a System Tailored for a Challenging Environment

The School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences & Centre for Metals in Biology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia,¹ Core Facilities for Proteomics Research, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan,² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242³

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a host-adapted pathogen that colonizes primarily the human genitourinary tract. This bacterium encounters reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species as a consequence of localized inflammatory responses in the urethra of males and endocervix of females and also of the activity of commensal lactobacilli in the vaginal flora. This review describes recent advances in the understanding of defense systems against oxidative stress in N. gonorrhoeae and shows that while some of its defenses have similarities to the paradigm established with Escherichia coli, there are also some key differences. These differences include the presence of a defense system against superoxide based on manganese ions and a glutathione-dependent system for defense against nitric oxide which is under the control of a novel MerR-like transcriptional regulator. An understanding of the defenses against oxidative stress in N. gonorrhoeae and their regulation may provide new insights into the ways in which this bacterium survives challenges from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and urogenital epithelial cells.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Lim, K. H. L., Jones, C. E., vanden Hoven, R. N., Edwards, J. L., Falsetta, M. L., Apicella, M. A., Jennings, M. P., McEwan, A. G. (2008). Metal Binding Specificity of the MntABC Permease of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Its Influence on Bacterial Growth and Interaction with Cervical Epithelial Cells. Infect. Immun. 76: 3569-3576 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Overton, T. W., Justino, M. C., Li, Y., Baptista, J. M., Melo, A. M. P., Cole, J. A., Saraiva, L. M. (2008). Widespread Distribution in Pathogenic Bacteria of Di-Iron Proteins That Repair Oxidative and Nitrosative Damage to Iron-Sulfur Centers. J. Bacteriol. 190: 2004-2013 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sandercock, J. R., Page, W. J. (2008). Identification of Two Catalases in Azotobacter vinelandii: a KatG Homologue and a Novel Bacterial Cytochrome c Catalase, CCCAv. J. Bacteriol. 190: 954-962 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Soler-Garcia, A. A., Jerse, A. E. (2007). Neisseria gonorrhoeae Catalase Is Not Required for Experimental Genital Tract Infection despite the Induction of a Localized Neutrophil Response. Infect. Immun. 75: 2225-2233 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Pullan, S. T., Gidley, M. D., Jones, R. A., Barrett, J., Stevanin, T. M., Read, R. C., Green, J., Poole, R. K. (2007). Nitric Oxide in Chemostat-Cultured Escherichia coli Is Sensed by Fnr and Other Global Regulators: Unaltered Methionine Biosynthesis Indicates Lack of S Nitrosation. J. Bacteriol. 189: 1845-1855 [Abstract] [Full Text]