Catalase-aminotriazole method for measuring secretion of hydrogen peroxide by microorganisms.

A new method for measuring the secretion of H(2)O(2) has been based upon an H(2)O(2)-dependent inhibition of catalase by 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. The conversion of an H(2)O(2)-secretion rate into a catalase inhibition rate amplified a relatively small molar concentration of H(2)O(2) and provided a highly specific and sensitive method for quantitatively measuring H(2)O(2). A major advantage of this approach is that it does not require extensive accumulation of H(2)O(2) in the environment. The method was successfully employed to measure H(2)O(2) secretion by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which possesses a peroxidase-like activity that limits the accumulation of H(2)O(2) in the environment.