Bacterial siderophores and inflammatory proteins

Bacterial siderophores and inflammatory proteins refers to a collective group of molecules involved in the host-pathogen competition for iron, a process known as nutritional immunity (NIH). Bacterial siderophores are high-affinity iron-chelating compounds, such as enterobactin, secreted by pathogens to scavenge ferric iron from the host environment (PubMed). In response, the host produces inflammatory proteins like lipocalin-2 (also known as siderocalin), lactoferrin, and transferrin to sequester these siderophores or the iron itself, thereby inhibiting microbial growth (UniProt). This molecular axis is a primary target for diagnostic imaging using Gallium-67, which mimics ferric iron and binds to these molecules at sites of infection and inflammation (NCI Thesaurus). Therapeutically, gallium-based compounds like gallium nitrate exploit this system to disrupt iron metabolism in pathogens and cancer cells (FDA). Additionally, Trojan horse antibiotics like cefiderocol utilize bacterial siderophore transport systems to bypass resistance mechanisms and deliver antimicrobial agents directly into the cell (PubMed).

Other names

Siderophore-binding proteinsIron-sequestering proteinsGallium-binding targetsNutritional immunity proteins

Gallium ions (Ga3+) act as mimetics of ferric iron (Fe3+), binding to bacterial siderophores and host inflammatory proteins (such as lactoferrin and transferrin) that accumulate at sites of infection and inflammation (NCI Thesaurus).