Iron acquisition systems of Listeria monocytogenes.

Abstract The uptake of iron by Listeria monocytogenes was studied. The microorganism was found to bind both 59Fe(II) and [59Fe3+]citrate. In contrast, L. monocytogenes was unable to acquire iron from [59Fe3+]ferroxamine or [59Fe3+]EDTA or as 59FeCl3. The data suggest that iron is acquired principally as iron(II) and that a citrate-inducible iron uptake system is also operative.