In this issue of Structure, Holmes et al.(2005) describe elements of an innate defense
mechanism that provides mammals a means to restrict bacterial growth. The host protein …

Recent studies have revealed that the mammalian immune system directly interferes with
siderophore-mediated iron acquisition through siderophore-binding proteins and that the …

Conspectus This Account focuses on the coordination chemistry of the microbial iron
chelators called siderophores. The initial research (early 1970s) focused on simple analogs …

Pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria encounter many obstacles in route to successful invasion
and subversion of a mammalian host. As such, bacterial species have evolved clever ways …

The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria constitutes a permeability barrier that
protects the cell from exterior hazards, but also complicates the uptake of nutrients. In the …

Iron is an essential trace element for most organisms. A common way for bacteria to acquire
this nutrient is through the secretion of siderophores, which are secondary metabolites that …

Many bacteria, including numerous human pathogens, synthesize small molecules known
as siderophores to scavenge iron. Enterobactin, a siderophore produced by enteric bacteria …

Siderophores are low molecular weight, high affinity iron chelating molecules that are
essential virulence factors in many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Whereas the …

The use of iron as an enzymatic cofactor is pervasive in biological systems. Consequently
most living organisms, including pathogenic bacteria, require iron to survive and replicate …

Bacterial pathogens use siderophores to obtain iron from the host in order to survive and
grow. The host defends against siderophore-mediated iron acquisition by producing …