Identification of a hemin utilization protein of Moraxella catarrhalis (HumA).

ABSTRACT: Moraxella catarrhalis is a major cause of acute otitis media in young children and has also been implicated as an important cause of exacerbations in adults with underlying pulmonary disease. Due to the considerable level of antibiotic resistance and the high degree of carriage rates in young children, it is likely that the incidence of M. catarrhalis infections will continue to rise. M. catarrhalis is a strict human respiratory pathogen, and this bacterium uses both transferrin and lactoferrin receptors to fulfill the essential iron requirement for survival in vivo. However, these are the only described iron acquisition systems for this organism. In this report we have demonstrated that M. catarrhalis can also utilize hemin as a sole source of iron for growth. In addition, we have identif

SUBMITTER: Furano K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC523042 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature