Oxygen Uptake by Treponema pallidum

Abstract
Virulent Treponema pallidum has been shown to consume O 2 at a rate similar to that of the known aerobic spirochaete, Leptospira. Such O 2 uptake is cyanide sensitive, indicating a functioning cytochrome oxidase. Inhibition of O 2 uptake by azide, chlorpromazine, and amytal further suggests a functioning electron transport system for the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced) to O 2 . 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.

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