Oxidative Stress Induced by Polymyxin E Is Involved in Rapid Killing ofPaenibacillus polymyxa

Abstract

Historically, the colistin has been thought to kill bacteria through membrane lysis. Here, we present an alternative mechanism that colistin induces rapidPaenibacillus polymyxadeath through reactive oxygen species production. This significantly augments our understanding of the mechanism of colistin action, which is critical knowledge toward the yield development of colistin in the future.