Bacterial Iron Detoxification Mechanisms: Insights into Iron Homeostasis and Oxidative Stress Mitigation Original paper
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
Read MoreKaren Pendergrass is a microbiome researcher specializing in microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs). She systematically analyzes scientific literature to identify microbial patterns, develop hypotheses, and validate interventions. As the founder of the Microbiome Signatures Database, she bridges microbiome research with clinical practice. In 2012, based on her own investigative research, she became the first documented case of FMT for Celiac Disease—four years before the first published case study.
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Karen Pendergrass
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Karen Pendergrass
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Metals
Metals
Heavy metals play a significant and multifaceted role in the pathogenicity of microbial species.
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Karen Pendergrass
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Researched by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Fact-checked by:
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Karen Pendergrass
ID
Karen Pendergrass
Read More
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was reviewed?
This review examines the mechanisms bacteria employ to manage iron homeostasis, detoxify excess iron, and mitigate oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The review surveys molecular insights into various iron-regulating proteins and pathways, highlighting their structures, functions, and evolutionary significance. These mechanisms are critical for bacterial survival, especially under oxidative stress and during host-pathogen interactions.
Who was reviewed?
The review focuses on bacteria from diverse ecological niches, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative species. It examines key bacterial proteins and regulatory systems such as Fur (ferric uptake regulator), DtxR/IdeR (iron-dependent regulators), and novel regulators like RirA and Irr. The study also investigates iron storage proteins like ferritins and mini-ferritins (Dps), alongside mechanisms for iron acquisition, transport, and detoxification.
What were the most important findings?
The review highlights iron’s dual role as an essential nutrient and potential toxin due to ROS generation via the Fenton reaction. Proteins like Fur, DtxR, and RirA regulate iron homeostasis by balancing uptake, storage, and efflux to prevent oxidative stress. Ferritins and Dps detoxify excess iron by sequestering it, while siderophores facilitate iron acquisition. The interplay between iron homeostasis and ROS/RNS detoxification is critical during immune responses, with bacteria exhibiting diverse adaptations to manage iron under varying environmental stresses.
What are the greatest implications of this review?
The insights provided by this review have significant implications for understanding bacterial survival strategies under nutrient limitation and oxidative stress. These findings offer potential therapeutic targets for managing bacterial infections. Iron acquisition and storage systems are particularly attractive targets, as their disruption could limit bacterial growth and virulence. Additionally, understanding bacterial iron detoxification pathways can inform microbiome-targeted interventions (MBTIs) such as iron chelation, especially in conditions where dysbiosis may alter iron homeostasis or oxidative stress.
Microbiome-Targeted Interventions (MBTIs)
Microbiome Targeted Interventions (MBTIs) are cutting-edge treatments that utilize information from Microbiome Signatures to modulate the microbiome, revolutionizing medicine with unparalleled precision and impact.