• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.15 no.4 s.71
• /
• pp.641-646
• /
• 2005

An approximately 10-fold higher level of adherence of Salmonella typhimurium strain TML to Int-407 cells was observed with organisms grown in Luria broth or in high-iron containing medium than those grown in low-iron containing medium. Iron specifically enhanced adherence, while other cations such as calcium, cobalt, copper, potassium, magnesium and manganese did not. It was suggested that iron did not act as a passive ligand - probably it stimulated production of bacterial factors necessary for adherence. A similar pattern of iron modulation of adhesiveness was also seen in Salmonella mutants with single or different combinations of multiple mutations in genes encoding the mannose sensitive hemagglutinin (type 1 fimbriae), mannose resistant hemagglutinin and flagellum. The adhesiveness of an isogenic fur mutant was modulated by iron in a manner similar to the wild-type strain, suggesting that iron modulation of adherence is independent of the fur gene product.