How plant-rotting bacteria steal iron to survive

(PLOS) In a new study, researchers identify important new insights into a survival mechanism of the bacteria that cause rotting in certain plants, including some highly invasive weeds. The study, publishing on Aug. 2 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, demonstrates for the first time exactly how the bacterium Pectobacterium obtains the iron vital to its survival and replication: by pirating it from iron-bearing proteins in the host plants.

Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - August 2, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news