The Role of Iron in Bacterial Virulence

Overview

Data on the role of iron in host-bacterium interaction in relation to virulence are summarized.Attention is focused on host iron acquisition pathways in bacteria. Host iron can be acquired byseveral mechanisms, e.g. from hemoglobin degradation products such as heme and hemin, directlyfrom ferrated transferrin and lactoferrin, indirectly from iron binding proteins by the productionof siderophores and from intracellular iron stores (ferritin). Regulation of iron uptake is discussed.

Key words:
iron – bacteria – host – virulence.