title: Effect of catalase on hydrogen peroxide penetration into Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.
abstract: The penetration of hydrogen peroxide into biofilms formed by wild-type and catalase-deficient Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains was measured using microelectrodes. A flowing stream of hydrogen peroxide (50 mM, 1 h) was unable to penetrate or kill wild-type biofilms but did penetrate and partially kill biofilms formed by an isogenic strain in which the katA gene was knocked out. Catalase protects aggregated bacteria by preventing full penetration of hydrogen peroxide into the biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University-Bozeman, Bozeman, Montana 59717-3980, USA. phil_s@erc.montana.edu
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Elkins
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lewandowski
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Ochsner
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hassett
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D002374:Catalase