Effect of Hydrogen Peroxide and Superoxide Radical on Viability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Related Bacteria 1

Abstract

Summary

H₂O₂, but not · O ₂ or -OH radical, appeared to be the bactericidal agent for N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, N. perflava, and B. catarrhalis in vitro in the purine-xanthine oxidase reaction, a system that generates products like those of the oxidative bactericidal system within PMN. Virulent Tl and avirulent T4 gonococci were killed equally. Both exponential and stationary phase gonococci were killed similarly. The addition of lactoperoxidase and iodide only slightly enhanced killing of gonococci by H₂O₂, if at all.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of R. S. Fulbright and M. Breakstone.