Role of nitric oxide-detoxifying enzymes in the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against the silkworm, Bombyx mori

Abstract

Pseudomonas aeruginosa has two nitric oxide (NO)- detoxification enzymes, NO reductase and flavohemoglobin, which catalyze the reduction and oxygenation of NO respectively. In this study, the NO reductasedeficient mutant showed decreased virulence against the silkworm Bombyx mori, but the flavohemoglobindeficient mutant did not, indicating that NO-reduction is important to the full virulence of P. aeruginosa against B. mori.