Microbial pathogens with impaired ability to acquire host iron.
Successful microbial pathogens must be adept in obtaining growth-essential iron from healthy hosts. Some potential pathogens, however, are sufficiently impaired in iron acquisition ability so as to be dangerous mainly in hosts with such iron loading conditions as alcoholism, asplenia, hemochromatosis, beta-thalassemia major, or tobacco smoking. The association of six impaired pathogens (Capnocytophaga canimorsis, Yersinia enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis, Vibrio vulnificus, Tropheryma whippelii, and Legionella pneumophila) with iron loaded humans is described.
Weinberg
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ED
Department of Biology and Program in Medical Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington 47405, USA. eweinber@indiana.edu
D000192:Actinomycetales / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002206:Capnocytophaga / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D016952:Legionella pneumophila / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014733:Vibrio / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity
D007501:Iron