Siderophores are small molecules used to specifically transport iron into bacteria via related receptors. By adapting siderophores and hijacking their pathways, we may discover an efficient and selective way to target microbes. Herein, we report the synthesis of a siderophore-fluorophore conjugate VF-FL derived from vibrioferrin (VF). Using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy, the probe selectively labeled vibrios, including V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, and V. vulnificus, even in the presence of other species such as S. aureus and E. coli. The labeling is siderophore-related and both iron-limited conditions and the siderophore moiety are required. The competitive relationship between VF-FL and VF in vibrios implies an unreported VF-related transport mechanism in V. cholerae and V. vulnificus. These studies demonstrate that the siderophore scaffold provides a method to selectively target microbes expressing cognate receptors under iron-limited conditions.

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基于荧光铁载体的探针对弧菌的选择性靶向

铁载体是用于通过相关受体将铁特异性转运到细菌中的小分子。通过适应铁载体并劫持它们的途径，我们可能会发现一种有效且选择性的靶向微生物的方法。在此，我们报道了源自弧菌铁蛋白（VF）的铁载体-荧光团结合物VF-FL的合成。使用流式细胞仪和荧光显微镜，即使存在其他金黄色葡萄球菌和大肠杆菌，该探针也选择性标记了弧菌，包括副溶血弧菌，霍乱弧菌和创伤弧菌。。标记与铁载体有关，并且铁限制条件和铁载体部分都是必需的。VF-FL和弧菌中VF之间的竞争关系暗示了霍乱弧菌和创伤弧菌中未报道的VF相关转运机制。这些研究表明，铁载体提供了一种在铁受限的条件下选择性靶向表达同源受体的微生物的方法。