B. anthracis and iron

B. anthracis must acquire iron in order to grow and proliferate in its host environment. The most readily available iron sources for pathogenic bacteria are the heme. In order to scavenge heme from hemoglobin and myoglobin, B. anthracis uses its secretory siderophore. These proteins separate heme from hemoglobin, allowing surface proteins of B. anthracis to transport it into the cell.



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