Question

Escherichia coli ST131 is a uropathogenic strain (aka UPEC) noted for being multiply-drug resistant and its ability to resist exposure to reactive oxygen species produced by both neutrophils and activated macrophages. This makes treatment especially challenging, considering that neutrophils are present in large numbers even in non-inflamed urinary epithelia.

Why might mammals heavily rely on the oxidative burst properties of neutrophils as a particularly important type of defense in the urinary tract? Hypothesize two possible explanations.

Answer 1

1. Respiratory burst in mammals is a defensive mechanism which releases reactive oxygen species.This is a an important reaction that occurs in phagocytes to degrade internalized particles and bacteria.They are usually released when the ovum has been fertilized.

2. To prevent the body from infection immune cells uses NADPH oxidase to reduce O₂ to free radical and hydrogen peroxide. Neutrophils and monocytes use myeloperoxidase to further combine hydrogen peroxide with chloride ion to produce hypochlorite, which destroy bacteria.