Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical of the human innate immune response to invading pathogens. NO, produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), is used by the immune system to kill microorganisms encapsulated within phagosomes via protein and DNA disruption. Owing to its ability to disperse biofilm-bo...

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Main Authors: Jonathan Matthew Roberts, Scarlet Milo, Daniel Gary Metcalf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2543
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author Jonathan Matthew Roberts
Scarlet Milo
Daniel Gary Metcalf
author_facet Jonathan Matthew Roberts
Scarlet Milo
Daniel Gary Metcalf
author_sort Jonathan Matthew Roberts
collection DOAJ
description Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical of the human innate immune response to invading pathogens. NO, produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), is used by the immune system to kill microorganisms encapsulated within phagosomes via protein and DNA disruption. Owing to its ability to disperse biofilm-bound microorganisms, penetrate the biofilm matrix, and act as a signal molecule, NO may also be effective as an antibiofilm agent. NO can be considered an underappreciated antimicrobial that could be levied against infected, at-risk, and hard-to-heal wounds due to the inherent lack of bacterial resistance, and tolerance by human tissues. NO produced within a wound dressing may be an effective method of disrupting biofilms and killing microorganisms in hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure injuries. We have conducted a narrative review of the evidence underlying the key antimicrobial and antibiofilm mechanisms of action of NO for it to serve as an exogenously-produced antimicrobial agent in dressings used in the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2076-2607
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publishDate 2024-12-01
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series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-eb55d611ed354b37b75bab59bb81b5382024-12-27T14:41:30ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072024-12-011212254310.3390/microorganisms12122543Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric OxideJonathan Matthew Roberts0Scarlet Milo1Daniel Gary Metcalf2Advanced Wound Care Research & Development, Convatec, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside CH5 2NU, UKAdvanced Wound Care Research & Development, Convatec, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside CH5 2NU, UKAdvanced Wound Care Research & Development, Convatec, Deeside Industrial Park, Deeside CH5 2NU, UKNitric oxide (NO) is a free radical of the human innate immune response to invading pathogens. NO, produced by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), is used by the immune system to kill microorganisms encapsulated within phagosomes via protein and DNA disruption. Owing to its ability to disperse biofilm-bound microorganisms, penetrate the biofilm matrix, and act as a signal molecule, NO may also be effective as an antibiofilm agent. NO can be considered an underappreciated antimicrobial that could be levied against infected, at-risk, and hard-to-heal wounds due to the inherent lack of bacterial resistance, and tolerance by human tissues. NO produced within a wound dressing may be an effective method of disrupting biofilms and killing microorganisms in hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, venous leg ulcers, and pressure injuries. We have conducted a narrative review of the evidence underlying the key antimicrobial and antibiofilm mechanisms of action of NO for it to serve as an exogenously-produced antimicrobial agent in dressings used in the treatment of hard-to-heal wounds.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2543nitric oxidewoundhard-to-healbiofilmantimicrobial
spellingShingle Jonathan Matthew Roberts
Scarlet Milo
Daniel Gary Metcalf
Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
Microorganisms
nitric oxide
wound
hard-to-heal
biofilm
antimicrobial
title Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
title_full Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
title_fullStr Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
title_full_unstemmed Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
title_short Harnessing the Power of Our Immune System: The Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Nitric Oxide
title_sort harnessing the power of our immune system the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of nitric oxide
topic nitric oxide
wound
hard-to-heal
biofilm
antimicrobial
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/12/2543
work_keys_str_mv AT jonathanmatthewroberts harnessingthepowerofourimmunesystemtheantimicrobialandantibiofilmpropertiesofnitricoxide
AT scarletmilo harnessingthepowerofourimmunesystemtheantimicrobialandantibiofilmpropertiesofnitricoxide
AT danielgarymetcalf harnessingthepowerofourimmunesystemtheantimicrobialandantibiofilmpropertiesofnitricoxide