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Iron and Virulence in Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia: All We Know So Far

V Kalidasan1, Narcisse Joseph1, Suresh Kumar1

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
|November 29, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia acquires iron via siderophore and heme pathways, crucial for its growth and pathogenicity. Iron also regulates key virulence factors like biofilm formation and enzyme production.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pathogenesis
  • Bacterial Physiology

Background:

  • Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a multi-drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen.
  • Iron is essential for bacterial growth, proliferation, and pathogenicity.
  • S. maltophilia possesses multiple virulence factors and antibiotic resistance mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the iron acquisition systems in S. maltophilia.
  • To elucidate the role of iron in S. maltophilia's pathogenicity.
  • To summarize current knowledge on iron metabolism and its impact.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on S. maltophilia iron acquisition.
  • Analysis of genomic data regarding iron uptake pathways (siderophore and heme).
  • Examination of regulatory mechanisms (Fur, sigma factors) under iron limitation.

Main Results:

  • S. maltophilia utilizes both siderophore (enterobactin via entAFDBEC operon) and heme (hgbBC, hmuRSTUV operons) for iron uptake.
  • Iron acts as a signaling molecule influencing biofilm formation, EPS production, enzyme secretion, and oxidative stress response.
  • Fur and sigma factors regulate gene expression in response to iron availability.

Conclusions:

  • Iron acquisition mechanisms are critical for S. maltophilia's survival and virulence.
  • Iron's regulatory role extends to various pathogenicity factors, highlighting its importance in infection.
  • Understanding these pathways is key to developing strategies against this opportunistic pathogen.
Keywords:
FurS. maltophiliairon-depletedmicrobial iron acquisitionsiderophorevirulence factors

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