The iron-regulated surface proteins IsdA, IsdB, and IsdH are not required for heme iron utilization in Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

The iron-regulated surface determinant proteins (Isd) of Staphylococcus aureus are expressed during iron limitation and have been proposed to be involved in the scavenging of iron from heme. In this study, the genes encoding the surface proteins IsdA, IsdB, and IsdH were inactivated in order to determine their combined role. The triple mutant was found to have no defect in growth under any conditions of iron limitation tested. Also using a mouse septic arthritis model of S. aureus systemic disease, no significant difference in bacterial load was observed for the triple mutant, compared with its otherwise isogenic parent.