title: Iron and microbial infection.
abstract: The use of iron as a cofactor in basic metabolic pathways is essential to both pathogenic microorganisms and their hosts. It is also a pivotal component of the innate immune response through its role in the generation of toxic oxygen and nitrogen intermediates. During evolution, the shared requirement of micro- and macroorganisms for this important nutrient has shaped the pathogen-host relationship. Here, we discuss how pathogens compete with the host for iron, and also how the host uses iron to counteract this threat.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology, Department of Immunology, Schumannstrasse 21-22, D-10117, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Schaible
authors.forename: Stefan H E
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007501:Iron