Nutritional immunity is a form of innate immunity widespread in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The term refers to a rich repertoire of mechanisms set up by the host to inhibit bacterial proliferation by sequestering trace minerals (mainly iron, but also zinc and manganese). This strategy, selected by evolution, represents an effective front-line defense against pathogens and has thus inspired the exploitation of iron restriction in the development of innovative antimicrobials or enhancers of antimicrobial therapy. This review focuses on the mechanisms of nutritional immunity, the strategies adopted by opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to circumvent it, and the impact of deletion mutants on the fitness, infectivity, and persistence inside the host. This information finally converges in an overview of the current development of inhibitors targeting the different stages of iron uptake, an as-yet unexploited target in the field of antistaphylococcal drug discovery.

Iron metabolism at the interface between host and pathogen: From nutritional immunity to antibacterial development

Kovachka S.;Gianquinto E.;Spyrakis F.;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Nutritional immunity is a form of innate immunity widespread in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The term refers to a rich repertoire of mechanisms set up by the host to inhibit bacterial proliferation by sequestering trace minerals (mainly iron, but also zinc and manganese). This strategy, selected by evolution, represents an effective front-line defense against pathogens and has thus inspired the exploitation of iron restriction in the development of innovative antimicrobials or enhancers of antimicrobial therapy. This review focuses on the mechanisms of nutritional immunity, the strategies adopted by opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to circumvent it, and the impact of deletion mutants on the fitness, infectivity, and persistence inside the host. This information finally converges in an overview of the current development of inhibitors targeting the different stages of iron uptake, an as-yet unexploited target in the field of antistaphylococcal drug discovery.
2020
21
6
2145
2189
Hemophores; Iron; Nutritional immunity; Siderophores; Staphylococcus aureus; Virulence
Marchetti M.; De Bei O.; Bettati S.; Campanini B.; Kovachka S.; Gianquinto E.; Spyrakis F.; Ronda L.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
ijms-21-02145.pdf

Accesso aperto

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 4.8 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
4.8 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1737500
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 22
  • Scopus 42
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 37
social impact