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Updated: May 20, 2026

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source
Published on: February 7, 2013
Iron-dependent synthesis of hemolysins by Staphylococcus aureus
V V Leonov1, V V Kosterina, V V Varnitsina
1Department of Chemistry, Yugorsk State University, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. leonovvadim@yandex.ru
Abstract:
We studied the effect of Fe(2+) on hemolysin synthesis by Staphylococcus aureus. Hemolytic activity of staphylococci was shown to be iron-dependent. Addition of Fe(2+) to the nutrient medium induced the synthesis of α-hemolysin by staphylococci. Increasing the concentration of Fe(2+) was followed by an increase in hemolytic activity of staphylococci. Inducible synthesis of α-hemolysin probably serves as an important pathogenetic factor in the development of staphylococcal infection in patients with excessive iron accumulation in the body.
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