Ability of Vibrio vulnificus to obtain iron from transferrin and other iron-binding proteins

TLDR: The ability of virulent and avirulent strains ofVibrio vulnificus to overcome iron limitations by using iron bound to iron-binding proteins was examined and growth was enhanced by the iron-saturated form of these proteins.

Abstract: The ability of virulent and avirulent strains ofVibrio vulnificus to overcome iron limitations by using iron bound to iron-binding proteins was examined. While no strains were able to obtain iron from lactoferrin or ferritin when these proteins were not fully saturated with iron, growth was enhanced by the iron-saturated form of these proteins. None of the strains was able to scavange iron from 30% saturated transferrin, but there were strain differences in the ability to obtain iron from the saturated form. The virulent strains were able to compete more efficiently with transferrin when it was fully saturated with iron than were the avirulent strains.