The secondary metabolite hydrogen cyanide protects against sodium hypochlorite-induced oxidative stress.

The high pathogenicity of is attributed to the production of many virulence factors and its resistance to several antimicrobials. Among them, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is a widely used disinfectant due to its strong antimicrobial effect. However, bacteria develop many mechanisms to survive the damage caused by this agent.

Oxidative Stress Response in .

is a Gram-negative environmental and human opportunistic pathogen highly adapted to many different environmental conditions. It can cause a wide range of serious infections, including wounds, lungs, the urinary tract, and systemic infections. The high versatility and pathogenicity of this bacterium is attributed to its genomic complexity, the expression of several virulence factors, and its intrinsic resistance to various antimicrobials.

Surviving Reactive Chlorine Stress: Responses of Gram-Negative Bacteria to Hypochlorous Acid.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and its active ingredient, hypochlorous acid (HOCl), are the most commonly used chlorine-based disinfectants. HOCl is a fast-acting and potent antimicrobial agent that interacts with several biomolecules, such as sulfur-containing amino acids, lipids, nucleic acids, and membrane components, causing severe cellular damage. It is also produced by the immune system as a first-line of defense against invading pathogens.