Pyocyanine
Encyclopedia
Pyocyanine is an antibiotic
pigment produced by the Gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. It is a redox
-active virulence factor
which allows P. aeruginosa to kill cells, disrupts cilia actions, inhibit lymphocyte
proliferation, and alter phagocytic function. Due to its redox-active properties, pyocyanin generates reactive oxygen species
that induce oxidative stress
in bacterial and mammalian cells.
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
pigment produced by the Gram negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in animals, including humans. It is found in soil, water, skin flora, and most man-made environments throughout the world. It thrives not only in normal atmospheres, but also in hypoxic atmospheres, and has, thus, colonized many...
. It is a redox
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
-active virulence factor
Virulence factor
Virulence factors are molecules expressed and secreted by pathogens that enable them to achieve the following:* colonization of a niche in the host...
which allows P. aeruginosa to kill cells, disrupts cilia actions, inhibit lymphocyte
Lymphocyte
A lymphocyte is a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system.Under the microscope, lymphocytes can be divided into large lymphocytes and small lymphocytes. Large granular lymphocytes include natural killer cells...
proliferation, and alter phagocytic function. Due to its redox-active properties, pyocyanin generates reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species
Reactive oxygen species are chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen. Examples include oxygen ions and peroxides. Reactive oxygen species are highly reactive due to the presence of unpaired valence shell electrons....
that induce oxidative stress
Oxidative stress
Oxidative stress represents an imbalance between the production and manifestation of reactive oxygen species and a biological system's ability to readily detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage...
in bacterial and mammalian cells.