Abstract
The bacterial respiratory pathogens Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella bronchiseptica employ multiple alternative iron acquisition pathways to adapt to changes in the mammalian host environment during infection. The alcaligin, enterobactin, and heme utilization pathways are differentially expressed in response to the cognate iron source availability by a mechanism involving substrate-inducible positive regulators. As inducers, the iron sources function as chemical signals termed ferrimones. Ferrimone-sensing allows the pathogen to adapt and exploit early and late events in the infection process.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Bacterial Proteins / genetics
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism*
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Bordetella / genetics
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Bordetella / metabolism*
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Bordetella / pathogenicity
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Bordetella Infections / metabolism
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Enterobactin / chemistry
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Enterobactin / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial
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Heme / genetics
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Heme / metabolism
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Humans
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Hydroxamic Acids / chemistry
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Hydroxamic Acids / metabolism
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Iron / metabolism*
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Siderophores / chemistry
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Siderophores / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
Substances
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Bacterial Proteins
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Hydroxamic Acids
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Siderophores
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alcaligin
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Enterobactin
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Heme
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Iron