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Effect of exposure to hydrogen peroxide on the virulence of Escherichia coli 
Hegde, A.; Bhat, G.K. & Mallya, S.
Abstract
Purpose: To eliminate pathogenic bacteria, the host presents conditions that are stressful for bacteria. Oxidative stress arises when the concentration of pro-oxidants like hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) and superoxide anion increases to a level over the basal defence capacity of the cell. In the present study, we studied the effect of oxidative stress on the production of certain virulence factors by Escherichia coli .
Methods: E. coli was exposed to oxidative stress by growing in the presence of different concentrations of H 2 O 2 . The effect of oxidative stress on the expression of surface hydrophobicity, adherence, haemolysin production, serum resistance and phagocytosis was studied.
Results: Oxidative stress caused a significant decrease in the expression of all the virulence factors of E. coli .
Conclusions: Synthesis of virulence factors can be significantly altered by oxidative stress and such changes may affect the pathogenicity of E. coli.
Keywords
Escherichia coli, oxidative stress, virulence
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