Capacity of siderophore — producing alkalophilic bacteria to accumulate iron,gallium and aluminum

Summary The ability of alkalophilic bacteria to remove iron, gallium and aluminium from culture media is reported. Of six bacterial strains grown in the presence of iron, gallium or aluminium (10 M), five were able to accumulate iron or gallium, but only two depleted the aluminium stock. A comparison of gallium removal under low (< 1 gmM) or high (10 gmM) iron conditions showed that two isolates accumulated gallium only under low-Fe conditions. One isolate, a coryneform bacterium, was able to grow in the presence of 1, 10 and 100 mg gallium/l, but growth and siderophore production were affected at high gallium concentration. Similar concentrations of gallium were accumulated from cultures initially containing 1 or 100 mg gallium/l. Offsprint requests to: D. J. Gascoyne     

Siderophore Cross-Utilization Amongst Rhizospheric Bacteria and the Role of Their Differential Affinities for Fe3+ on Growth Stimulation Under Iron-Limited Conditions

The majority of bacteria isolated from rhizospheres of Arachis hypogea (Groundnut) and Vigna radiata (Mung bean) predominantly produced catechol-type siderophores except for a few fluorescent pseudomonads that produced hydroxamates in addition to catecholates. The rhizospheric isolates differed in their ability to cross-utilize siderophores produced by other rhizospheric isolates (heterologous); some were highly proficient at utilizing heterologous siderophores, while others were poor cross-utilizers. Isolate G9, which utilized hydroxamate as well as catecholate siderophores, was found to be an efficient siderophore cross-utilizer, while isolates G2 and G6 were poor-utilizers of catecholate and non-utilizers of hydroxamate siderophores. Growth stimulation of two isolates G9 and G6 was seen when grown in the presence of externally supplied heterologous siderophores, which they cross-utilized. The iron-regulated outer membrane protein (IROMP) profiles differed for the most cross-utilizer and the least cross-utilizer strains, but in both the cases no new outer membrane proteins (OMP) were induced in response to the exogenous siderophores supplied. The growth of the organisms in the presence of heterologous siderophores that they failed to cross-utilize led to growth inhibition in the case of isolate G9. This appears to be due to a lower affinity of the siderophore of G9 as compared to the exogenously supplied G6 siderophore. A simple method was devised to measure relative affinities of respective siderophores for iron based on CAS solution decolorization by the siderophore preparations. The effect on the growth of the differential affinities of the siderophores for iron and the interactions of the organisms through cross-utilization is also discussed.     

Acquisition of iron from host sources by mesophilic Aeromonas species.

The mesophilic Aeromonas species are opportunistic pathogens that produce either of the siderophores amonabactin or enterobactin. Acquisition of iron for growth from Fe-transferrin in serum was dependent on the siderophore amonabactin; 50 of 54 amonabactin-producing isolates grew in heat-inactivated serum, whereas none of 30 enterobactin-producing strains were able to grow. Most isolates (regardless of siderophore produced) used haem as a sole source of iron for growth; all of 33 isolates grew with either haematin or haemoglobin and 30 of these used haemoglobin when complexed to human haptoglobin. Mutants unable to synthesize a siderophore used iron from haem, suggesting that this capacity was unrelated to siderophore production. Some members of the mesophilic Aeromonas species have evolved both siderophore-dependent and -independent mechanisms for acquisition of iron from a host.     

Siderophore cross-utilization amongst nodule isolates of the cowpea miscellany group and its effect on plant growth in the presence of antagonistic organisms

Nodule isolates from the cowpea miscellany group of legumes produced varying concentrations of catecholate and hydroxamate types of siderophores under iron-limiting conditions. The nodule isolates differed with respect to siderophore cross-utilizing abilities; some were proficient at using siderophores of other nodule isolates (homologous siderophores) while others could utilize siderophores produced by other rhizospheric bacteria (heterologous siderophores). Utilization of siderophore of rhizospheric bacterium PsB, a plant pathogen, benefited the nodule isolate G11 in terms of growth under iron-limiting laboratory conditions, while PsB was clearly inhibited in the presence of G11. Plate assays showed that siderophore of G11 could withhold iron from PsB and hence PsB was inhibited in the presence of G11. Isolates G11 and PsB when applied simultaneously to peanut seedlings under sterile soil conditions, provided a clear advantage to the plant in terms of reduction in the inhibitory effect of PsB. The count of the nodule isolate G11 increased in the soil when co-inoculated with PsB, as compared to when inoculated alone. Thus, the increased growth of the plant can be attributed to the iron sequestration and plant growth promoting properties of G11. The isolate G11 could utilize the siderophores produced by many other rhizospheric isolates while the siderophore of G11 was not being utilized by these rhizospheric isolates.     

Interactions between iron availability, aluminium toxicity and fungal siderophores

The influence of iron, aluminium and of the combined application of both metals on microbial biomass and production of siderophores by three fungi (Aspergillus nidulans, Neurospora crassa and Hymenoscyphus ericae) were investigated. All three species showed a strong iron regulation and Al-sensitivity of siderophore biosynthesis although several differences remained species dependent. Inhibitory effects of Fe and Al on siderophore-production were additive and the higher binding capacity of siderophores towards iron could be compensated by a higher Al-availability. Although pH itself is also important for regulation of siderophore biosynthesis, an indirect effect of Al on siderophore production via an Al-induced pH decrease could be outlined. The toxic effects of Al resulting in a reduced biomass production were compensated by high Fe-availability, whereas the addition of DFAM, a bacterial siderophore, enhanced Al-toxicity.     

Effects of iron level on the anatagonistic action of siderophores from non-pathogenicStaphylococcus spp

The production, detection and the effects of iron concentration on the siderophore production ofStaphylococcus strains used as meat starter cultures were studied. Non-pathogenicStaphylococcus strains produce extracellular low molecular weight compounds which exhibited positive reactivity when measured by a universal detection method for siderophores. The production of siderophores was very closely associated with the iron concentration in the medium, and very low additions considerably reduced siderophore production. Although the production of siderophores was highly iron-dependent, the antimicrobial activity of spent medium fromStaphylococcus cultures against selected yeasts and moulds remained considerable under high iron concentrations.     

Iron-dependent growth of and siderophore production by two heterotrophic bacteria isolated from brackish water of the southern Baltic Sea

Iron is indispensable to the growth and metabolism of all marine organisms, including bacteria. In this work, we investigated and compared the influence of iron(III) concentration on the growth of and siderophore production by two heterotrophic bacteria – Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus silvestris.Our results showed that the iron concentration strongly influences the growth of both species. The growth curves were different for each iron concentration and each strain. M. luteus grew more rapidly than B. silvestris, but produced a roughly four times smaller quantity of siderophores. Both M. luteus and B. silvestris secreted hydroxamate-type siderophores and α-keto/α-hydroxy acids, but did not produce catecholates.This paper is probably the first to report on siderophore production by B. silvestris and M. luteus isolated from seawater. Moreover, the influence of different iron concentrations on the growth of and siderophore production in these bacteria has been documented. This provides further evidence indicating iron bioavailability as the actual reason for siderophore release by biota.     

Utilization of Fe<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-acinetoferrin analogs as an iron source by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis>

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of human tuberculosis, synthesizes and secretes siderophores in order to compete for iron (an essential micronutrient). Successful iron acquisition allows M. tuberculosis to survive and proliferate under the iron-deficient conditions encountered in the host. To examine structural determinants important for iron siderophore transport in this pathogen, the citrate-based siderophores petrobactin, acinetoferrin and various acinetoferrin homologs were synthesized and used as iron transport probes. Mutant strains of M. tuberculosis deficient in native siderophore synthesis or transport were utilized to better understand the mechanisms involved in iron delivery via the synthetic siderophores. Acinetoferrin and its derivatives, especially those containing a cyclic imide group, were able to deliver iron or gallium into M. tuberculosis which promoted or inhibited, respectively, the growth of this pathogen. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Response of the cyanobacterium,Oscillatoria tenuis,to low iron environments: the effect on growth rate and evidence for siderophore production

Cyanobacteria vary in their ability to grow in media contaning low amounts of biologically available iron. Some strains, such as Oscillatoria tenuis, are well adapted to thrive in low-iron environments. We investigated the mechanism of iron scavenging in O. tenuis and found that this cyanobacterium has a siderophore-mediated iron transport system that differs significantly from the traditional hydroxamate-siderophore transport system reported from other cyanobacteria. Unlike other cyanobacteria, this strain produces two types of siderophores, a hydroxamate-type siderophore and a catechol-type siderophore. Production of these two siderophores is expressed at two different iron levels in the medium, suggesting two different iron regulated uptake systems. We compared the production of each siderophore with the growth rate of the culture and found that the production of the catechol siderophore enhances the growth rate of the cyanobacterium, whereas the cells maintain lower than maximal growth rates when only the hydroxamate-type siderophore is being produced.Abbreviation EDDA ethylene diamine di-(o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid)     

INFLUENCE OF IRON LIMITATION AND NITROGEN SOURCE ON GROWTH AND SIDEROPHORE PRODUCTION BY CYANOBACTERIA1

To characterize the mobilization and uptake of iron by cyanobacteria, 14 species were screened for ability to scavenge iron in a competitive system. The cyanobacteria exhibited a range of growth responses to iron limitation which could be separated into three groups, and a representative species from each group was chosen for further study. Effects of iron-limitation on growth and siderophore production of Anacystis nidulans R2, Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413, and Plectonema boryanum UTEX 581 were determined. Both A. nidulans R2 and A. variabilis showed a reduced rate of growth with decreased available iron concentration (PFe 17–19). Growth rates increased with further reduction in the level of available iron (pFe 20 to pFe 21). The increase in growth rate occurred at the same available iron concentration as the initiation of extracellular siderophore production. In contrast, the growth of P. boryanum decreased with decreasing available iron levels. No siderophore production was detected from P. boryanum cultures. The growth kinetics of siderophore-producing species differ from traditional nutrient-limited growth kinetics and clearly reflect the presence of a high affinity, siderophore-mediated iron transport system in A. nidulans R2 and A. variabilis. Iron-limited growth kinetics more similar to traditional nutrient-limited growth kinetics were found in P. boryanum. The available nitrogen source influenced amount of siderophore produced and concentration of available iron which induced siderophore production. Siderophores were produced at high iron concentrations (pFe 18) when A. variablilis cultures were grown in the absence of combined nitrogen source. When nitrate was supplied to the culture, iron concentrations had to be reduced to pFe 20 before siderophores were produced. Cells grown on nitrogen also produced greater than two times the amount of siderophore compared with nitrate grown cells. This may be indicative of an increased demand for iron by nitrogen fixing A. variabilis Cultures.     

Hydroxamate-siderophore production and utilization by marine eubacteria

Siderophore (iron-binding chelator) production was examined in 30 strains of open ocean bacteria from the generaVibrio, Alteromonas, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas, andPhotobacterium. The results showed that hydroxamate-type siderophore production was widely distributed in various marine species, except for isolates ofAlteromonas macleodii andV. nereis. In all cases, the ability to produce siderophores was under the control of iron levels in the medium and satisfied the iron requirements of the siderophore bioassay organism. On the basis of chemical assay and bacterial bioassays, none of the examined isolates produced phenolate-type siderophores. Several isolates produces siderophores that were neither hydroxamatenor phenolate-type siderophores. Some strains such asAlteromonas communis produce siderophores that could be used by many other isolates. In contrast, the siderophore produced byAlcaligenes venustus had little cross-strain utilization. These findings suggest that the ability to produce siderophores may be common to open ocean bacteria.     

The DNA gyrase inhibitors,nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid,prevent iron-mediated repression of catechol siderophore synthesis inAzotobacter vinelandii

Summary Low concentrations of nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid that were just inhibitory toAzotobacter vinelandii growth promoted the production of the catechol siderophores azotochelin and aminochelin, in the presence of normally repressive concentrations of Fe³⁺. There was a limited effect on the pyoverdin siderophore, azotobactin, where low concentrations of Fe³⁺ were rendered less repressive, but the repression by higher concentrations of Fe³⁺ was normal. These drugs did not induce high-molecular-mass iron-repressible outer-membrane proteins and similar effects on the regulation of catechol siderophore synthesis were not produced by novobiocin, coumermycin, or ethidium bromide. The timing of nalidixic acid and Fe³⁺ addition to iron-limited cells was critical. Nalidixic acid had to be added before iron-repression of catechol siderophore synthesis and before the onset of iron-sufficient growth. Continued production of the catechol siderophores, however, was not due to interference with normal iron uptake. These data indicated that nalidixic acid prevented normal iron-repression of catechol siderophore synthesis but could not reverse iron repression once it had ocurred. The possible roles of DNA gyrase activity in the regulation of catechol siderophore synthesis is discussed.     

Characterization of siderophores from Ustilago maydis

Two siderophores, ferrichrome and ferrichrome A, were found in cultures of Ustilago maydis (DC) Corda. Both siderophores were found intracellularly and extracellularly. Their authenticity was confirmed by thin layer chromatography, HPLC, UV-visible spectrometry, paper electrophoresis, amino acid analysis, NMR and fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy. Regulation of siderophore production by iron was examined. Repression of biosynthesis of extracellular siderophores occurred at 10^–5 M iron. Ferrichrome was found intracellularly at all iron concentrations employed; in general, ferrichrome A was not found to be cell-associated.     

Relationship ofAzotobacter chrooccum siderophores with nitrogen fixation

In iron-limited medium, a siderophore producing soil isolate ofAzotobacter chroococcum showed a high level of hydroxamate with relatively low level of nitrogen fixation. Inclusion of iron in the medium resulted in increased nitrogen fixation with decreased hydroxamate production. Under shake culture conditions, the level of both hydroxamate and catechol type of siderophores decreased after 2 d of incubation in iron-deficient medium. However, under iron-sufficient conditions, both siderophore production and nitrogen fixation increased with time although the level of siderophore was quite low. A number of soil isolates and mutants ofA. chrococcum were tested for nitrogen fixation, hydroxamate and catechol type of siderophore production. Wide variation was observed in the siderophore level and nitrogen fixation in the cultures tested. Nitrogen fixation was higher in the iron-sufficient medium than in iron-limited one while hydroxamate yield was higher in iron-limited medium than in the iron-sufficient one in all the cultures. Inclusion of ammonium acetate in the medium induced catechol synthesis in more than 60% of the cultures.     

Rhizosphere bacteria affect growth and metal uptake of heavy metal accumulating willows

A variety of plants growing on metalliferous soils accumulate metals in their harvestable parts and have the potential to be used for phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted land. There is increasing evidence that rhizosphere bacteria contribute to the metal extraction process, but the mechanisms of this plant–microbe interaction are not yet understood. In this study ten rhizosphere isolates obtained from heavy metal accumulating willows affiliating with Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Serratia, Flavobacterium, Streptomyces and Agromyces were analysed for their effect on plant growth, Zn and Cd uptake. In plate assays Zn, Cd and Pb resistances and the ability of the bacteria to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), 1-amino-cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase (ACC deaminase) and siderophores were determined. The isolates showed resistance to high Zn concentrations, indicating an adaptation to high concentrations of mobile Zn in the rhizosphere of Salix caprea. Four siderophore producers, two IAA producers and one strain producing both siderophores and IAA were identified. None of the analysed strains produced ACC deaminase. Metal mobilization by bacterial metabolites was assessed by extracting Zn and Cd from soil with supernatants of liquid cultures. Strain Agromyces AR33 almost doubled Zn and Cd extractability, probably by the relase of Zn and Cd specific ligands. The remaining strains, immobilized both metals. When Salix caprea plantlets were grown in γ-sterilized, Zn/Cd/Pb contaminated soil and inoculated with the Zn resistant isolates, Streptomyces AR17 enhanced Zn and Cd uptake. Agromyces AR33 tendentiously promoted plant growth and thereby increased the total amount of Zn and Cd extracted from soil. The IAA producing strains did not affect plant growth, and the siderophore producers did not enhance Zn and Cd accumulation. Apparently other mechanisms than the production of IAA, ACC deaminase and siderophores were involved in the observed plant–microbe interactions.     

Detection and differentiation of microbial siderophores by isoelectric focusing and chrome azurol S overlay

Siderophores are microbial, low molecular weight iron-chelating compounds. Fluorescent Pseudomonads produce different, strain-specific fluorescent siderophores (pyoverdines) as well as non-fluorescent siderophores in response to low iron conditions. We present an isoelectric focusing method applicable to unpurified as well as to purified pyoverdine samples where the fluorescent siderophores are visualized under UV illumination. Siderophores from different Pseudomonas sp., amongst which are P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens and P. putida, including egg yolk, rhizospheric and clinical isolates as well as some derived Tn5 mutants were separated by this technique. Different patterns could be observed for strains known to produce different siderophores. The application of the chrome azurol S assay as a gel overlay further allows immediate detection of non-fluorescent siderophores or possibly degradation products with residual siderophore activity. The method was also applied to other microbial siderophores such as deferrioxamine B.     

The siderophore system is essential for viability of Aspergillus nidulans: functional analysis of two genes encoding l-ornithine N 5-monooxygenase (sidA) and a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (sidC)

The filamentous ascomycete A. nidulans produces two major siderophores: it excretes triacetylfusarinine C to capture iron and contains ferricrocin intracellularly. In this study we report the characterization of two siderophore biosynthetic genes, sidA encoding l-ornithine N(5)-monooxygenase and sidC encoding a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase respectively. Disruption of sidC eliminated synthesis of ferricrocin and deletion of sidA completely blocked siderophore biosynthesis. Siderophore-deficient strains were unable to grow, unless the growth medium was supplemented with siderophores, suggesting that the siderophore system is the major iron assimilatory system of A. nidulans during both iron depleted and iron-replete conditions. Partial restoration of the growth of siderophore-deficient mutants by high concentrations of Fe(2+) (but not Fe(3+)) indicates the presence of an additional ferrous transport system and the absence of an efficient reductive iron assmilatory system. Uptake studies demonstrated that TAFC-bound iron is transferred to cellular ferricrocin whereas ferricrocin is stored after uptake. The siderophore-deficient mutant was able to synthesize ferricrocin from triacetylfusarinine C. Ferricrocin-deficiency caused an increased intracellular labile iron pool, upregulation of antioxidative enzymes and elevated sensitivity to the redox cycler paraquat. This indicates that the lack of this cellular iron storage compound causes oxidative stress. Moreover, ferricrocin biosynthesis was found to be crucial for efficient conidiation.     

Variation in Siderophore Biosynthetic Gene Distribution and Production across Environmental and Faecal Populations of Escherichia coli

Iron is essential for Escherichia coli growth and survival in the host and the external environment, but its availability is generally low due to the poor solubility of its ferric form in aqueous environments and the presence of iron-withholding proteins in the host. Most E. coli can increase access to iron by excreting siderophores such as enterobactin, which have a very strong affinity for Fe³⁺. A smaller proportion of isolates can generate up to 3 additional siderophores linked with pathogenesis; aerobactin, salmochelin, and yersiniabactin. However, non-pathogenic E. coli are also able to synthesise these virulence-associated siderophores. This raises questions about their role in the ecology of E. coli, beyond virulence, and whether specific siderophores might be linked with persistence in the external environment. Under the assumption that selection favours phenotypes that confer a fitness advantage, we compared siderophore production and gene distribution in E. coli isolated either from agricultural plants or the faeces of healthy mammals. This population-level comparison has revealed that under iron limiting growth conditions plant-associated isolates produced lower amounts of siderophores than faecal isolates. Additionally, multiplex PCR showed that environmental isolates were less likely to contain loci associated with aerobactin and yersiniabactin synthesis. Although aerobactin was linked with strong siderophore excretion, a significant difference in production was still observed between plant and faecal isolates when the analysis was restricted to strains only able to synthesise enterobactin. This finding suggests that the regulatory response to iron limitation may be an important trait associated with adaptation to the non-host environment. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the ability to produce multiple siderophores facilitates E. coli gut colonisation and plays an important role in E. coli commensalism.