Haemophilus influenzae and oxidative stress.
Haemophilus influenzae is a commensal of the human upper respiratory tract. H. influenzae can, however, move out of its commensal niche and cause multiple respiratory tract diseases. Such diseases include otitis media in young children, as well as exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and bronchitis. During the course of colonization and infection, H. influenzae must withstand oxidative stress generated by multiple reactive oxygen species produced endogenously, by other co-pathogens and by host cells. H. influenzae has, therefore, evolved multiple mechanisms that protect the cell against oxygen-generated stresses. In this review, we will describe these systems relative to the well-described systems in Escherichia coli. Moreover, we will compare how H. influenzae combats the effect of oxidative stress as a necessary phenotype for its roles as both a successful commensal and pathogen.
The Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus OH, USA. alistair.harrison@ nationwidechildrens.org
Alistair
A
Harrison
Lauren O
LO
Bakaletz
Robert S
RS
Munson
D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000633:toxicity; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species