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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source

Published on: February 7, 2013

Staphylococcus aureus growth using human hemoglobin as an iron source.

Gleb Pishchany¹, Kathryn P Haley, Eric P Skaar

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

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove

|February 22, 2013

Summary

Staphylococcus aureus needs iron for survival and disease. A new method allows researchers to study how S. aureus acquires iron from hemoglobin using its iron-regulated surface determinant (Isd) system.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Bacterial Pathogenesis
Iron Metabolism

Background:

Staphylococcus aureus requires iron for metabolic functions and causing disease.
Heme, derived from hemoglobin, is a primary iron source in the human host.
The iron-regulated surface determinant (Isd) system facilitates heme iron acquisition in S. aureus.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a reliable method for assessing S. aureus growth dependent on hemoglobin iron.
To overcome limitations of previous assays, including hemoglobin instability and iron contamination.

Main Methods:

Preparation and storage of high-quality hemoglobin from fresh blood.
Culturing S. aureus in iron-deplete medium supplemented with purified hemoglobin.
Inducing S. aureus growth dependent on the functional Isd system for heme iron acquisition.

Main Results:

A novel assay was established to study hemoglobin-iron acquisition in S. aureus.
The assay demonstrates S. aureus growth dependent on the complete Isd pathway.
This method overcomes challenges associated with hemoglobin instability and free iron contamination.

Conclusions:

The developed method enables robust study of hemoglobin- and heme-derived iron acquisition in S. aureus.
This assay is valuable for elucidating the mechanisms of the Isd system.
The method may be applicable to studying iron acquisition in other bacterial pathogens.