EN
The mechanism of intracellular killing of pathogens which involves both oxygen and reactive nitrogen intermediates have been discussed. The attention is focused on inducible nitric oxide synthase which produces NO, a soluble free radical. The role of nitric synthase in the pathogenesis of many parasitic infections has recently been emphasised. The participation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in the pathogenesis of many infections and the role of proteasomes in the process of repair of the oxidetively damaged proteins are also discussed.