Mechanisms of iron import in anthrax

Biometals. 2011 Jun;24(3):533-45. doi: 10.1007/s10534-011-9413-x. Epub 2011 Jan 22.

Abstract

During an infection, bacterial pathogens must acquire iron from the host to survive. However, free iron is sequestered in host proteins, which presents a barrier to iron-dependent bacterial replication. In response, pathogens have developed mechanisms to acquire iron from the host during infection. Interestingly, a significant portion of the iron pool is sequestered within heme, which is further bound to host proteins such as hemoglobin. The copious amount of heme-iron makes hemoglobin an ideal molecule for targeted iron uptake during infection. While the study of heme acquisition is well represented in Gram-negative bacteria, the systems and mechanism of heme uptake in Gram-positive bacteria has only recently been investigated. Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax disease, represents an excellent model organism to study iron acquisition processes owing to a multifaceted lifecycle consisting of intra- and extracellular phases and a tremendous replicative potential upon infection. This review provides an in depth description of the current knowledge of B. anthracis iron acquisition and applies these findings to a general understanding of how pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria transport this critical nutrient during infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthrax / metabolism*
  • Anthrax / microbiology*
  • Bacillus anthracis / metabolism*
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Iron / chemistry
  • Iron / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Conformation
  • Siderophores / chemistry
  • Siderophores / genetics
  • Siderophores / metabolism

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Siderophores
  • Iron