The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Antibiotic-Mediated Killing of Bacteria

Heleen Van Acker; Tom Coenye

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2016.12.008

The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species in Antibiotic-Mediated Killing of Bacteria

Trends Microbiol. 2017 Jun;25(6):456-466. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.12.008. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Authors

Heleen Van Acker¹, Tom Coenye²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
² Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Tom.Coenye@Ugent.be.

PMID: 28089288
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2016.12.008

Abstract

Recently, it was proposed that there is a common mechanism behind the activity of bactericidal antibiotics, involving the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the involvement of ROS in antibiotic-mediated killing has become the subject of much debate. In the present review, we provide an overview of the data supporting the ROS hypothesis; we also present data that explain the contradictory results often obtained when studying antibiotic-induced ROS production. For this latter aspect we will focus on the importance of taking the experimental setup into consideration and on the importance of some technical aspects of the assays typically used. Finally, we discuss the link between ROS production and toxin-antitoxin modules, and present an overview of implications for treatment.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Metabolism; ROS.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
Bacteria / drug effects*
Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
Eukaryotic Cells / drug effects
Inactivation, Metabolic / drug effects
Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects
Microbial Viability / drug effects
Oxidative Stress
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Reactive Oxygen Species / pharmacology*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Reactive Oxygen Species