"On demand" redox buffering by H₂S contributes to antibiotic resistance revealed by a bacteria-specific H₂S donor.

ABSTRACT: Understanding the mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will help launch a counter-offensive against human pathogens that threaten our ability to effectively treat common infections. Herein, we report bis(4-nitrobenzyl)sulfanes, which are activated by a bacterial enzyme to produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) gas. We found that H₂S helps maintain redox homeostasis and protects bacteria against antibiotic-triggered oxidative stress "on demand", through activation of alternate respiratory oxidases and cellular antioxidants. We discovered, a hitherto unknown role for this gas, that chemical inhibition of H₂S biosynthesis reversed antibiotic resistance in multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains of clinical origin, whereas exposu

SUBMITTER: Shukla P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5607856 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature