Suppression of bacterial biofilm formation by iron limitation.

The concentration of iron that permits bacterial differentiation generally differs from that needed for vegetative cell growth. An undesirable manifestation of differentiation is biofilm formation. The process in some, but not all, bacterial systems requires a higher level of iron than is needed for growth and it is suppressed by specific iron chelators. Human transferrin and lactoferrin, as well as at least six low molecular mass iron chelators, are now available for possible screening and clinical development as inhibitors of bacterial biofilm formation.