Escherichia coli K-12 ferrous iron uptake mutants are impaired in their ability to colonize the mouse intestine.
The streptomycin-treated mouse colonization model was used to investigate the role of the Fe2+ uptake system (Feo) of Escherichia coli K12 in the colonization of the mouse intestine. Mutants impaired in the uptake of Fe2+ ions were shown to be deficient also in their colonization ability. Both enterochelin-producing and enterochelin-nonproducing Escherichia coli feo mutants were unable to colonize the mouse intestine. These results demonstrated that Fe(II) is an essential source of iron for E. coli grown in the intestine.
Stojiljkovic
I
I
Mikrobiologie II, Tübingen, FRG, Institute for Preventive Medicine, Beograd, Crnotravska, Yugoslavia.
Cobeljic
M
M
Hantke
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation
D007501:Iron