Identification and Characterization of Genes Required for Utilization of Desferri-Ferrichrome and Aerobactin in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

During the course of our investigation on the iron acquisition systems in Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a causative agent of seafood-related gastroenteritis, we found that this species utilizes desferri-ferrichrome for growth as a heterologous siderophore (a siderophore produced by other bacteria and fungi) under iron-limiting conditions. N-Terminal amino acid sequence analysis of the iron-repressible outer membrane proteins followed by searches of the reported genomic sequences of this species identified four relevant genes (called fhuACDB) forming an operon. Deletion analysis of the fhuA and fhuD genes indicated that the most upstream gene fhuA and the three downstream genes fhuCDB encode the ferrichrome receptor and the ATP-binding cassette transport components, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the fhuCDB genes are also required for transport of ferric aerobactin which restores growth of this species under iron-limiting conditions.