Acquisition of iron from transferrin bySalmonella paratyphi B

The ability ofSalmonella paratyphi B to obtain iron from human, bovine, and rabbit transferrin was studied. All three transferrins restored the growth potential for otherwise ironstarvedS paratyphi B producing enterobactin. No exogenous siderophore was needed for growth to occur. A non-enterobactin-producing derivative ofS. paratyphi B was unable to acquire iron from transferrin, and transferrin did not restore the growth potential of the organism. Sequestering the transferrin fromS. paratyphi B in dialysis tubing did not affect the ability of the transferrin to supply iron to the organism.