resistance to hypochlorous acid.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly known as bleach, is generated during the respiratory burst by phagocytes and is a key weapon used to attack and other microbial pathogens. However, the effects of hypochlorous acid on have been less well studied than HO, a different type of oxidant produced by phagocytes. HOCl kills more effectively than HO and results in disruption of the plasma membrane. HOCl induced a very different transcriptional response than HO, and there were significant differences in the susceptibility of mutant strains of to these oxidants. Altogether, these results indicate that HOCl has distinct effects on cells that could be targeted in novel therapeutic strategies to enhance the killing of and other pathogens.