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B.
Rowe Byers, Ph.D. |
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Professor
Ph.D., Univ. Texas
Primary Research Interest:
Throughout the years, the main emphasis of the research
in our laboratory (Dr. Jean Arceneaux and I work together)
has been directed toward the elucidation of the mechanisms
of iron
acquisition
in
bacteria.
Almost all microbes need iron to grow and survive, and
most pathogenic
microorganisms have several ways to obtain iron to
meet this need. Among the iron acquisition systems described
in microorganisms are those that involve secretion
of
and uptake from specific iron chelating molecules called
siderophores, reductive mechanisms for uptake of ferrous
iron, and systems for utilization of host iron molecules
such as heme proteins, lactoferrin and transferrin.
With contributions from many talented students, we have
characterized
iron acquisition systems in Bacillus megaterium, Streptococcus
mutans, Aeromonas hydrophila and Mycobacterium
smegmatis.
Our current efforts are centered on the iron utilization
systems of Bacillus anthracis. This microorganism
possesses a number of mechanisms to acquire iron, and
we have identified
a 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate-based catecholate siderophore
that is produced when the organism is grown in iron
restrictive conditions. While the role of siderophores
in microbial
virulence continues to be a focus of interest, we are
also investigating other routes of iron acquisition
by
B. anthracis that may play a role in its survival
in a mammalian host.
Other Activities:
Editorial Board Member, Biometals
Publications:
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