Iron depletion and virulence in Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus is able to grow in the presence of extremely low iron concentrations (0.04 microM). In iron-limiting conditions, this species develops alternative metabolic strategies such as highly efficient iron-uptake mechanisms which are only partially shared with S. epidermidis. Here we summarize the mechanisms induced by iron starvation in S. aureus in order to elucidate the virulence characteristics of this bacterium.