Epidemiology and Transmission

When exposed to an iron-deficient environment, such as that encountered in vivo, many pathogenic bacteria synthesise low molecular weight iron chelating compounds called siderophores, which are released into the environment to scavenge iron. In addition, high molecular weight outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are induced which function as receptors for these siderophores. Alternatively, some bacteria, such as pathogenic Neisseria, exhibit inducible OMP receptors which bind lactoferrin or transferrin directly.