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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

Specificity for human hemoglobin enhances Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Gleb Pishchany1, Amanda L McCoy, Victor J Torres

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical School, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|December 15, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Staphylococcus aureus efficiently binds human hemoglobin, enhancing iron acquisition for bacterial growth. This specificity, mediated by the IsdB receptor, increases infection severity in humanized mouse models, suggesting evolutionary adaptation.

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Iron is essential for bacterial proliferation, with Staphylococcus aureus acquiring it from host hemoglobin during infections.
  • The process involves bacterial cell wall binding, heme extraction, transport, and iron release.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Staphylococcus aureus's ability to bind and utilize hemoglobin from different mammalian sources.
  • To elucidate the role of the staphylococcal hemoglobin receptor IsdB in human hemoglobin specificity.
  • To establish a mouse model for studying Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis related to human hemoglobin.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of Staphylococcus aureus hemoglobin binding to human and mammalian hemoglobins.
  • Genetic analysis focusing on the IsdB receptor's function.
  • Infection studies using transgenic mice expressing human hemoglobin.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococcus aureus exhibits enhanced binding and iron acquisition from human hemoglobin compared to other mammals.
  • This specificity is dependent on the staphylococcal hemoglobin receptor IsdB.
  • Human hemoglobin-expressing mice showed increased susceptibility to systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Conclusions:

  • Staphylococcus aureus possesses an evolved mechanism for efficient iron acquisition from human hemoglobin.
  • The IsdB receptor plays a critical role in this host-specific adaptation.
  • Human hemoglobin-expressing mice serve as a valuable model for studying Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis.