FvbA is required for vibriobactin utilization in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Bacteria acquire iron through a highly specific mechanism involving iron-chelating molecules termed siderophores. The Gram-negative bacteriumPseudomonas aeruginosacan utilize siderophores produced by other micro-organisms to facilitate iron uptake. Here we show that aP. aeruginosastrain deficient in siderophore production can use theVibrio choleraesiderophore vibriobactin as an iron source. In addition, we identified aP. aeruginosagene, PA4156 (fvbA), encoding a protein highly homologous to theV. choleraevibriobactin receptor (ViuA). AP. aeruginosamutant in the two endogenous siderophores (pyoverdine and pyochelin) and infvbAwas unable to utilize vibriobactin as an iron source. Additionally, preliminary analyses revealed the involvement of vibriobactin, Fur protein and an IclR-type regulator, FvbR (PA4157), infvbAregulation.