ppGpp

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Collaboration yields insights into iron restriction for limiting pathogen growth

A recent collaboration titled Tailoring a Global Iron Regulon to a Uropathogen looks at host iron restriction as a mechanism for limiting the growth of pathogens. The study compared the regulatory network controlled by Fur in uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) to that of nonpathogenic E. coli K-12 to uncover strategies that bacteria use to overcome iron limitation. Although iron homeostasis functions were regulated by Fur in the uropathogen as expected, a surprising finding was the activation of the stringent and general stress responses in the uropathogen fur mutant, which was rescued by amino acid addition. This coordinated global response could be important during transitions from the nutrient-rich environment of the lower gastrointestinal tract to the more restrictive environment of the urinary tract.