Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Petrobactin: The stealth siderophore of anthrax

International Congress on Bacteriology & Infectious Diseases

November 20-22, 2013 DoubleTree by Hilton Baltimore-BWI Airport, MD, USA

Philip C. Hanna

Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

Inhalation anthrax is a rapidly progressing infection initiated by uptake of Bacillus anthracis spores into the lungs, internalization, germination and primary establishment in the lymph nodes, followed by body-wide dissemination. It is marked by dramatic proliferation of toxin- and capsule bacilli, with titers often reaching >108 organisms per cc of blood prior to death. A firm requirement for the large increase in bacterial titers, and therefore for fulminant disease, is the ability to acquire essential nutrients from the host. This lecture focuses on B. anthracis abilities to acquire iron via biosynthesis, secretion and then reacquisition of the small metabolite siderophore named petrobactin. Petrobactin is sometimes called the ?stealth siderophore? for its ability to avoid innate immune clearance. Topics covered include the essential role of petrobactin in virulence, its biosynthesis, its re-uptake into B. anthracis via multiple ABC transporter membrane complexes and initial evaluations of small molecules that inhibit iron uptake by this gram-positive bacterial pathogen.