Nitric Oxide, an Old Molecule With Noble Functions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biology

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative bacterium, is characterized by its versatility that enables persistent survival under adverse conditions. It can grow on diverse energy sources and readily acquire resistance to antimicrobial agents. As an opportunistic human pathogen, it also causes chronic infections inside the anaerobic mucus airways of cystic fibrosis patients. As a strict respirer, P. aeruginosa can grow by anaerobic nitrate ( [Formula: see text] ) respiration. Nitric oxide (NO) produced as an intermediate during anaerobic respiration exerts many important effects on the biological characteristics of P. aeruginosa. This review provides information regarding (i) how P. aeruginosa grows by anaerobic respiration, (ii) mechanisms by which NO is produced under such growth, and (iii) bacterial adaptation to NO. We also review the clinical relevance of NO in the fitness of P. aeruginosa and the use of NO as a potential therapeutic for treating P. aeruginosa infection.