Oxygen uptake by Treponema pallidum

Abstract

Virulent T. pallidum has been shown to consume O2 at a rate similar to that of the known aerobic spirochaete, Leptospira. Such O2 uptake is cyanide sensitive, indicating a functioning cytochrome oxidase. Inhibition of O2 uptake by azide, chlorpromazine, and amytal further suggests a functioning electron transport system for the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced) to O2. Evidence is consistent with the probability that this terminal electron transport system is coupled to oxidative phosphorylation. The potential significance of these findings is discussed.