Unlocking the Role of pandoraea ⁢Bacteria in Iron Scavenging

​ Updated June 20,‌ 2025

Despite their potential danger, Pandoraea ‍bacteria also possess beneficial traits, including the production of antibacterial substances, according‍ to Elena Herzog, a​ doctoral researcher at‍ the Leibniz‌ Institute ⁤for Natural​ Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI). ‍The bacteria, named ⁤after Pandora’s box, have been linked to cystic fibrosis and sepsis.

Researchers at Jena have now identified ⁤how Pandoraea strains compete for ⁤resources. Like moast organisms,‍ bacteria ‍need iron. Herzog noted iron’s crucial role⁣ in enzymes and respiration. In iron-poor environments, many​ microbes produce siderophores to capture and transport ⁢iron.

The team identified⁣ a gene cluster, *pan*, ⁤responsible for producing siderophores. ‌Through analysis, they isolated Pandorabactin A and B. herzog said these molecules enable the bacteria to acquire iron when scarce.

Bioassays revealed that pandorabactins inhibit⁢ the growth of bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Mycobacterium, and Stenotrophomonas by ​depriving‌ them of‍ iron. Further analysis showed a correlation between the *pan* gene cluster and changes​ in lung microbiomes of cystic fibrosis patients, suggesting pandorabactins directly influence microbial communities.

Herzog cautioned against premature medical applications, but emphasized the findings provide insights into⁣ the⁤ survival strategies of Pandoraea ⁤ bacteria and resource competition within the human ​body.

What’s next

Further research will explore the potential medical applications of pandorabactins ‌and ⁢their impact on microbial communities ‌in ‍various environments.