This review, published in the prestigious journal Nature Reviews Microbiology, examines the diversity of siderophores, iron-chelating compounds produced by bacteria, and their potential applications in both environmental and medical fields.
Iron is essential for the growth and survival of nearly all bacteria, yet it is often poorly available due to its low solubility. To obtain iron, many bacteria produce siderophores—molecules with a high affinity for scavenging iron from their surroundings, including from hosts during infections. Researchers have identified a wide range of siderophore structures and diverse molecular mechanisms bacteria employ to acquire iron using these chelators. Beyond their role in iron acquisition, siderophores have gained attention for their ability to bind other metals and their potential for various applications. Environmentally, they could be used to remediate metal pollution and enhance plant nutrient uptake. In medicine, siderophores hold promise for new treatments targeting iron-related disorders (such as hemochromatosis, thalassemia, and certain types of anemia), infections (via antibiotic vectorization), cancer (by inhibiting cancer cell growth through iron deprivation), and medical imaging (as pathogen sensors).
Article:
Schalk IJ (2024). Bacterial siderophores: diversity, uptake pathways and applications. Nat Rev Microbiol. Sep 5 Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1038/s41579-024-01090-6.
