Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source
06:37

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Published on: February 7, 2013

The role of iron in infections with intracellular bacteria

Helen L Collins1

  • 1Division of Life Sciences, Kings College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE19NN, UK. helen.collins@kcl.ac.uk

Immunology Letters
|January 16, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Iron is essential for both host cells and intracellular bacteria like Salmonella and Mycobacterium during infection. Modulating host iron levels can disrupt the host-pathogen balance and influence infection outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

  • Iron is vital for cellular functions in both hosts and pathogens.
  • Intracellular bacteria, including Salmonella typhimurium and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, depend on host iron for survival and growth.
  • Macrophages utilize iron for crucial antimicrobial mechanisms like the oxidative burst and nitric oxide production.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize research on iron modulation in infections caused by intracellular bacteria.
  • To highlight how altering host iron status impacts the host-pathogen equilibrium and infection outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on iron metabolism in host-pathogen interactions.
  • Analysis of the role of iron in macrophage antimicrobial functions.
  • Examination of iron's requirement for Salmonella and Mycobacterium growth.

Main Results:

  • Iron is a critical factor for both host defense mechanisms and intracellular bacterial proliferation.
  • Manipulation of host iron availability can significantly alter the balance of power between host and pathogen.
  • Altered iron status directly impacts the severity and outcome of infections.

Conclusions:

  • Host iron status is a key determinant in the pathogenesis of intracellular bacterial infections.
  • Targeting host iron metabolism presents a potential strategy for managing infections.
  • Understanding the dual role of iron is crucial for developing novel therapeutic approaches.

More Related Videos

High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability09:05

High Resolution Electron Microscopy of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System Pili Produced in Varying Conditions of Iron Availability

Published on: November 21, 2014

Quantification of Intracellular Growth Inside Macrophages is a Fast and Reliable Method for Assessing the Virulence of Leishmania Parasites10:01

Quantification of Intracellular Growth Inside Macrophages is a Fast and Reliable Method for Assessing the Virulence of Leishmania Parasites

Published on: March 16, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin01:28

The Early Endosome: Endocytosis of Transferrin

Essential proteins such as insulin or low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and micronutrients such as iron enter a eukaryotic cell through receptor-mediated endocytosis. Subsequently, the early endosomes fuse with the vesicles containing such receptor-ligand complexes and play a vital role in sorting the incoming ligands and receptors. While the ligands are either degraded inside the vesicle or released into the cytosol, their receptors are returned to the plasma membrane for further rounds of...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Microbial Nutrition01:28

Microbial Nutrition

Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles01:24

Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles

Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...