Synergism between iron chelators and complement for bactericidal activity.

Iron-binding agents such as the plasma protein transferrin or the siderophore desferal from Streptomyces pilosus inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, supposedly by interfering with iron uptake by those bacteria. This study shows that anti-Escherichia coli activity exerted by desferal and transferrin can be increased in a synergistic way by complement and anti-E. coli antibodies of normal serum.