Production of catechol-siderophore and utilization of transferrin-bound iron in Bacillus cereus

In the present study we attempted to ascertain whether Bacillus cereus was able to produce catechol-siderophore(s), and whether it was able to utilize transferrin-bound iron. The growth of B. cereus was stimulated in proportion to the iron-saturation level of the transferrin, and catechol-siderophores were produced in inverse proportion to this level. B. cereus was proved to uptake iron from partially iron-saturated transferrin or holotransferrin, without destroying the transferrin by its proteases. The catechol-siderophores from B. cereus were able to sustain and augment its growth on the transferrin-bound iron. These results indicate that B. cereus has the ability to produce catechol-siderophores, and to utilize transferrin-bound iron as an iron source for growth, via the siderophore-mediated iron-uptake system.