Chemical and Biological Aspects of Nutritional Immunity-Perspectives for New Anti-Infectives that Target Iron Uptake Systems

Upon bacterial infection one of the defense mechanisms of the host is the withdrawal of essential metal ions, in particular iron leading to "nutritional immunity". However, bacteria have evolved strategies to overcome iron starvation, e.g. by stealing iron from the host or other bacteria by specific iron chelators with high binding affinity. Fortunately, these complex interactions between host and pathogen regarding metal homeostasis provide several opportunities for interception and thus allow the development of novel antibacterials. The current review will give an overview with a major focus on iron, discuss recent highlights and will give some future perspectives, which are relevant in the fight against antibiotic resistance.