Eugene D Weinberg1. 1. Department of Biology and Program in Medical Sciences Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, IN 47405 USA. eweinber@indiana.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To successfully sustain an infection, nearly all bacteria, fungi and protozoa require a continuous supply of host iron. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: Mechanisms of microbial iron acquisition are determinants for the kinds of cells, tissues and hosts in which pathogens can flourish. As a corollary, hosts possess an array of iron withholding devices whereby they can suppress or abort microbial invasions. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Awareness of environmental and behavioral methods that can prevent iron loading plus development of pharmaceutical agents that can block microbial access to iron may help to reduce our dependence on antibiotics.
BACKGROUND: To successfully sustain an infection, nearly all bacteria, fungi and protozoa require a continuous supply of host iron. METHODS: Literature review. RESULTS: Mechanisms of microbial iron acquisition are determinants for the kinds of cells, tissues and hosts in which pathogens can flourish. As a corollary, hosts possess an array of iron withholding devices whereby they can suppress or abort microbial invasions. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Awareness of environmental and behavioral methods that can prevent iron loading plus development of pharmaceutical agents that can block microbial access to iron may help to reduce our dependence on antibiotics.
Authors: Dong Wang; Irene Cortés-Puch; Junfeng Sun; Steven B Solomon; Tamir Kanias; Kenneth E Remy; Jing Feng; Meghna Alimchandani; Martha Quezado; Christine Helms; Andreas Perlegas; Mark T Gladwin; Daniel B Kim-Shapiro; Harvey G Klein; Charles Natanson Journal: Transfusion Date: 2014-03-03 Impact factor: 3.157