Roles of Fe superoxide dismutase and catalase in resistance of Campylobacter coli to freeze-thaw stress

We demonstrated that oxidative stress plays a role in freeze-thaw-induced killing of Campylobacter coli following analysis of mutants deficient in key antioxidant functions. Superoxide anions, but not H2O2, were formed during the freeze-thaw process. However, a failure to detoxify superoxide anions may lead to spontaneous disproportionation of the radicals to H2O.