title: Leptospires are killed in vitro by both oxygen-dependent and -independent reactions.
abstract: This study reports for the first time that leptospires are killed by H(2)O(2) and by low-molecular-weight primary granule components, which are agents normally released by neutrophils upon stimulation. Although both pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains were sensitive to H(2)O(2)-mediated killing, nonpathogenic organisms were found to be more susceptible. In addition, the killing of leptospires by H(2)O(2) was found to be independent of the presence of the neutrophil primary granule component myeloperoxidase and therefore not a consequence of halogenation reactions. We have also determined that leptospires are significantly sensitive only to primary granule components and, among those, to proteins and/or peptides of less than 30 kDa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinco
mesh_terms: D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007919:Leptospira / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D009195:Peroxidase; D010100:Oxygen