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Iron uptake is essential for Escherichia coli survival in drinking water
Author(s) -
Grandjean D.,
Jorand F.,
Guilloteau H.,
Block J.C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2006.01895.x
Subject(s) - medicine
Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate if the need for iron for Escherichia coli to remain cultivable in a poorly nutritive medium such as the drinking water uses the iron transport system via the siderophores. Methods and Results: Environmental strains of E. coli (isolated from a drinking water network), referenced strains of E. coli and mutants deficient in TonB, an essential protein for iron(III) acquisition, were incubated for 3 weeks at 25°C, in sterile drinking water with and without lepidocrocite ( γ ‐FeOOH), an insoluble iron corrosion product. Only cells with a functional iron transport system were able to survive throughout the weeks. Conclusions: The iron transport system via protein TonB plays an essential role on the survival of E. coli in a weakly nutritive medium like drinking water. Significance and Impacts of the Study: Iron is a key parameter involved in coliform persistence in drinking water distribution systems.