Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are emerging as important elements in the bacterial response to lethal stress. Three naturally occurring species, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical, are receiving the most attention. ... However, bacteria may also use ROS to self-destruct when stress is severe.
Do bacteria produce free radicals?
Metabolic processes also result in the production of free radicals when microbial cells come into contact with antibiotics. ... Microorganisms have developed various mechanisms to intercept and neutralize these highly reactive molecules in order to deflect an immune system attack.
Do anaerobes produce ROS?
The low-potential redox chains (Eo′ ∼ −0.4 V) in such anaerobes are plausible sources of these ROS, since they are thermodynamically competent to drive electrons onto oxygen (Eo′ = −0.16 V).
