Cysteine and resistance to oxidative stress: implications for virulence and antibiotic resistance

Alexandra Tikhomirova; Mohammad M Rahman; Stephen P Kidd; Richard L Ferrero; Anna Roujeinikova

doi:10.1016/j.tim.2023.06.010

Cysteine and resistance to oxidative stress: implications for virulence and antibiotic resistance

Trends Microbiol. 2024 Jan;32(1):93-104. doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.06.010. Epub 2023 Jul 19.

Authors

Alexandra Tikhomirova¹, Mohammad M Rahman², Stephen P Kidd³, Richard L Ferrero⁴, Anna Roujeinikova⁵

Affiliations

¹ Monash University, Department of Microbiology, Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
² University of Kentucky, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY, USA.
³ University of Adelaide, Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia; University of Adelaide, Research Centre for Infectious Disease (RCID) and Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology (ACARE), Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
⁴ Monash University, Department of Microbiology, Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia; Monash University, Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia.
⁵ Monash University, Department of Microbiology, Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia; Monash University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia. Electronic address: anna.roujeinikova@monash.edu.

PMID: 37479622
DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.06.010

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), including the superoxide radical anion (O₂^•-), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the hydroxyl radical (^•HO), are inherent components of bacterial metabolism in an aerobic environment. Bacteria also encounter exogenous ROS, such as those produced by the host cells during the respiratory burst. As ROS have the capacity to damage bacterial DNA, proteins, and lipids, detoxification of ROS is critical for bacterial survival. It has been recently recognised that low-molecular-weight (LMW) thiols play a central role in this process. Here, we review the emerging role of cysteine in bacterial resistance to ROS with a link to broader elements of bacterial lifestyle closely associated with cysteine-mediated oxidative stress response, including virulence and antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; cysteine; oxidative stress; reactive oxygen species; virulence.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Bacteria / metabolism
Cysteine* / metabolism
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Hydrogen Peroxide* / metabolism
Hydrogen Peroxide* / pharmacology
Oxidative Stress
Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
Superoxides / metabolism
Virulence

Substances

Reactive Oxygen Species
Cysteine
Hydrogen Peroxide
Superoxides