Use of hemoglobin as an iron source by Bacillus cereus.
The hemoglobin binding activity of Bacillus cereus cells was measured with fluoresceinisothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated hemoglobin using flow cytometry. Growth of B. cereus was markedly inhibited by the addition of apo-transferrin. B. cereus could not use transferrin-bound iron as an iron source in serum. The growth inhibition was reversed by the addition of a FeCl3 solution, erythrocytes or hemoglobin. B. cereus released hemolysin; these findings suggested that the hemoglobin released from erythrocytes by B. cereus hemolysin binds to B. cereus and is thus used as an iron source.
Sato
N
N
Department of Microbiology, Tohoku College of Pharmacy, Sendai, Japan.
Kurotaki
H
H
Watanabe
T
T
Mikami
T
T
Matsumoto
T
T
D001059:Apoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D014168:Transferrin / Q000494:pharmacology
D001059:Apoproteins; D003470:Culture Media; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014168:Transferrin; C028284:apotransferrin; D007501:Iron