title: Mode of action of nitro-heterocyclic compounds on Escherichia coli.
abstract: The inhibitory and bactericidal activities of several different nitro-heterocyclic compounds, such as nitrofuran, nitronaphthofuran, nitrobenzofuran, nitroimidazole and nitrothiazole, were assessed in vitro. All these substances except nitroimidazole were active against Escherichia coli, though to different degrees. Under anaerobic test conditions the antibacterial activity increased slightly. Nitroreductase-deficient mutants, however, were highly resistant to all nitro-compounds, indicating that only when the nitro-group is reduced to these agents get into an active antibacterial form. SOS repair-deficient strains were much more susceptible to the nitro-containing substances than repair-proficient counterparts, indicating that damage to bacterial DNA is the essential mechanism of antibacterial activity of all nitro-heterocyclic compounds.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, FRG.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hof
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buisson
mesh_terms: D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009154:Mutation; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009601:Nitroreductases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009574:Nitro Compounds; D009601:Nitroreductases