Different roles of the two high-oxygen-affinity terminal oxidases of Brucella suis: Cytochrome c oxidase, but not ubiquinol oxidase, is required for persistence in mice.

The survival of Brucella suis mutant strains in mice demonstrated different roles of the two high-oxygen-affinity terminal oxidases. The cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase was essential for chronic infection in oxygen-deficient organs. Lack of the cytochrome bd ubiquinol oxidase led to hypervirulence of bacteria, which could rely on nitrite accumulation inhibiting the inducible nitric oxide synthase of the host.