Iron availability and infection.
BACKGROUND
To successfully sustain an infection, nearly all bacteria, fungi and protozoa require a continuous supply of host iron.


METHODS
Literature review.


RESULTS
Mechanisms of microbial iron acquisition are determinants for the kinds of cells, tissues and hosts in which pathogens can flourish. As a corollary, hosts possess an array of iron withholding devices whereby they can suppress or abort microbial invasions.


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness of environmental and behavioral methods that can prevent iron loading plus development of pharmaceutical agents that can block microbial access to iron may help to reduce our dependence on antibiotics.
Weinberg
Eugene D
ED
Department of Biology and Program in Medical Sciences Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, IN 47405 USA. eweinber@indiana.edu
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000503:physiopathology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009181:Mycoses / Q000503:physiopathology; D014774:Virulence / Q000502:physiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology
D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D007501:Iron