Bacteria hijack plentiful iron supply source to flourish
Wednesday, July 9, 2014 - 18:30
in Health & Medicine
In an era of increasing concern about antibiotic-resistant illness, researchers have identified a new pathway to disabling disease: blocking bacteria's access to iron. Scientists showed how bacterial siderophore, a small molecule, captures iron from two supply sources to fan bacterial growth -- as well as how the body launches a chemical counterassault against this infection process.