Antioxidant defences of Spironucleus vortens: Glutathione is the major non-protein thiol

- Spironucleus vortens is an aerotolerant anaerobe.
- The ATCC and fresh (Sv1) isolate differ in their sensitivities to O2.
- Glutathione is present at a concentration of 776 nmol/107 cells.
- S. vortens possesses SOD and NADH oxidase, but lacks catalase and peroxidase.
- Metronidazole and garlic derivatives disrupt intracellular redox balance.