Open AccessThe effect of synthetic iron chelators on bacterial growth in human serum
Author(s) -
Brock J.H.,
Licéaga Joan,
Kontoghiorghes G.J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1988.tb02490.x
Subject(s) - chemistry , siderophore , bacterial growth , bacteria , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , genetics , gene
The effect of synthetic iron chelators of the 1‐alkyl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐methylpyrid‐4‐one class (the L1 series) and 1‐hydroxypyrid‐2‐one (L4) on bacterial growth in human serum was compared with those of the plant iron chelators mimosine and maltol and of the microbial siderophore desferrioxamine. None of the synthetic chelators enhanced growth of 3 Gram‐negative organisms ( Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ); in some cases they were even inhibitory. L4 strongly stimulated growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis , but the L1 series had only a marginal effect. Maltol was mildly inhibitory to all 4 bacterial species, while mimosine enhanced the growth of S. epidermidis and Y. enterocolitica but had little effect on E. coli or P. aeruginosa . Desferrioxamine enhanced the growth chelators of synthetic or plant origin may carry less risk of increasing susceptibility to bacterial infection in patients undergiong chelation therapy for iron overload than does desferrioxamine, the drug currently in clinical use.