Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans
Iron is the most abundant transition metal in the human body and its bioavailability is stringently controlled. In particular, iron is tightly bound to host proteins such as transferrin to maintain homeostasis, to limit potential damage caused by iron toxicity under physiological conditions and to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fcimb.2013.00080/full |
| _version_ | 1818057420634587136 |
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| author | Mélissa eCaza James eKronstad |
| author_facet | Mélissa eCaza James eKronstad |
| author_sort | Mélissa eCaza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Iron is the most abundant transition metal in the human body and its bioavailability is stringently controlled. In particular, iron is tightly bound to host proteins such as transferrin to maintain homeostasis, to limit potential damage caused by iron toxicity under physiological conditions and to restrict access by pathogens. Therefore, iron acquisition during infection of a human host is a challenge that must be surmounted by every successful pathogenic microorganism. Iron is essential for bacterial and fungal physiological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, metabolism and energy generation via respiration. Hence, pathogenic bacteria and fungi have developed sophisticated strategies to gain access to iron from host sources. Indeed, siderophore production and transport, iron acquisition from heme and host iron-containing proteins such as hemoglobin and transferrin, and reduction of ferric to ferrous iron with subsequent transport are all strategies found in bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans. This review focuses on a comparison of these strategies between bacterial and fungal pathogens in the context of virulence and the iron limitation that occurs in the human body as a mechanism of innate nutritional defence. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:44:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-78d96cdd447d4770bf248850cfc714e7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2235-2988 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T12:44:27Z |
| publishDate | 2013-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-78d96cdd447d4770bf248850cfc714e72022-12-22T01:48:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology2235-29882013-11-01310.3389/fcimb.2013.0008065324Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humansMélissa eCaza0James eKronstad1University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British ColumbiaIron is the most abundant transition metal in the human body and its bioavailability is stringently controlled. In particular, iron is tightly bound to host proteins such as transferrin to maintain homeostasis, to limit potential damage caused by iron toxicity under physiological conditions and to restrict access by pathogens. Therefore, iron acquisition during infection of a human host is a challenge that must be surmounted by every successful pathogenic microorganism. Iron is essential for bacterial and fungal physiological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, metabolism and energy generation via respiration. Hence, pathogenic bacteria and fungi have developed sophisticated strategies to gain access to iron from host sources. Indeed, siderophore production and transport, iron acquisition from heme and host iron-containing proteins such as hemoglobin and transferrin, and reduction of ferric to ferrous iron with subsequent transport are all strategies found in bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans. This review focuses on a comparison of these strategies between bacterial and fungal pathogens in the context of virulence and the iron limitation that occurs in the human body as a mechanism of innate nutritional defence.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fcimb.2013.00080/fullHemeIronSiderophoresTransferrinMicrobial PathogenesisHemoglobin |
| spellingShingle | Mélissa eCaza James eKronstad Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology Heme Iron Siderophores Transferrin Microbial Pathogenesis Hemoglobin |
| title | Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| title_full | Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| title_fullStr | Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| title_short | Shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| title_sort | shared and distinct mechanisms of iron acquisition by bacterial and fungal pathogens of humans |
| topic | Heme Iron Siderophores Transferrin Microbial Pathogenesis Hemoglobin |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fcimb.2013.00080/full |
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