Siderophores: A Novel Approach to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

The increasing bacterial resistance subsequent to antibiotic use has insti- gated the development of new and effective antimicrobial strategies. Bacterial iron uptake systems are novel therapeutic agents since iron is crucial for the growth and development of microorganisms as well as a main virulence factor during the estab- lishment of an infection. The method commonly used for iron assimilation is based on the production of siderophores, which are low molecular weight iron chelators produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants to facilitate iron uptake and crucial for bac- terial pathogenicity. Therefore, in recent year’s siderophore iron uptake, systems have received much attention as novel targets for antimicrobial approaches. Here we review siderophores in the antimicrobial field. We first outline the prob- lematic of bacterial resistance to available marketed antibacterial drugs and, conse- quently, the current needs to contrast with the emergence of bacterial resistance