Superoxide dismutase activity in Vibrio el tor in relation to oxygen toxicity and bactericidal action of nitrofurantoin.

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Abstract
Superoxide dismutase was characterized in normal and also in nitrofurantoin-resistant mutant strain of V. [cholerae] eltor. An induction of this enzyme, which is noted in V. eltor when grown under hyperbaric oxygen, is inhibited by nitrofurantoin. This induction of superoxide dismutase becomes insensitive to nitrofurantoin in V. eltor after it acquires resistance towards the antibacterial agent. The lethal effect of superoxide radicals on V. eltor is shown by both photochemically and enzymically generated superoxide radicals. Nitrofurantoin aggravated the lethal effect of superoxide radicals in normal and in nitrofurantoin-resistant mutants of the microorganism. Bovine superoxide dismutase preparation exhibited a protective effect on the enhanced lethality of superoxide radicals towards V. eltor strains in the presence of nitrofurantoin. Superoxide dismutase could also inhibit the photochemical enzymic activation of nitrofurantoin.