Cited by 273Iron Metabolism and DisordersHemoglobin structure and functionBacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Iron and infection: the heart of the matter

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Bullen, John J., Rogers, Henry J., Spalding, Paul B., Ward, Charles G.·2005·FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a major threat to clinical medicine. However, natural resistance to bacterial infection, which does not depend on antibiotics, is a powerful protective mechanism common to all mankind. The availability of iron is the heart of the matter and the successful functioning of these antibacterial systems depends entirely upon an extremely low level of free ionic iron (10(-18) M) in normal tissue fluids. This in turn depends on well-oxygenated tissues where the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) and pH control the binding of iron by unsaturated transferrin and lactoferrin. Bacterial virulence is greatly enhanced by freely available iron, such as that in fully-saturated transferrin or free haemoglobin. Following trauma a fall in tissue Eh and pH due to ischaemia, plus the reducing powers of bacteria, can make iron in transferrin freely available and abolish the bactericidal properties of tissue fluids with disastrous results for the host. Hyperbaric oxygen is a possible therapeutic measure that could restore normal bactericidal systems in infected tissues by raising the Eh and pH.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.11.010

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  • The understanding of the uptake pathways for FeEnt and FeGEnt and their degradation products has clinical importance related to their correlations with microbial virulence.

    “Hence, the understanding of the uptake pathways for FeEnt and FeGEnt and their degradation products has clinical importance related to their correlations with microbial virulence (47,48).”

    From Siderophore-mediated iron acquisition by <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (2024) · cites this paper as [48]

    Section 3.2 (page not specified in our copy) links bacterial iron acquisition to growth and virulence, and identifies enterobactin as an iron chelator produced by several pathogenic genera. It does not discuss FeEnt or FeGEnt uptake pathways, their degradation products, or correlations between those specific pathways and virulence. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Ward, C.G. and Bullen, J.J. (1999) Clinical and physiological aspects In: Iron and Infection. Molecular, Physiological, and Clinical Aspects (Bullen, J.J. and Griffiths, E., Eds.), pp. 369-450. Wiley, Chichester.

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Authors
Bullen, J. J., Rogers, H. J., Spalding, P. B., & Ward, C. G.
Affiliations
  • University of Miami (US)
  • National Institute for Medical Research (GB)
Corresponding author
Bullen, John J.
Venue
FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology
Published
2005-03
Volume
43
Issue
3
Pages
325-330
ISSN
  • 0928-8244 (ISSN-L)
  • 1574-695X
OpenAlex
W2047570111
Cited by
273
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
FWCI
1.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Iron Metabolism and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Hemoglobin structure and function
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
Keywords
iron, bacterial infection, iron acquisition, transferrin, lactoferrin, hemoglobin, redox potential, tissue pH, ischemia, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, innate immunity, bacterial virulence
MeSH terms
Animals, Hypoxia, Bacteria, Bacterial Infections, Blood Substitutes, Blood Transfusion, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Immunity, Innate, Iron, Leukemia, Oxidation-Reduction, Virulence, Wounds and Injuries, Iron Overload

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