Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Iron is an essential micronutrient for all microorganisms. Although abundant, iron is mostly in the oxidized insoluble form under physiological conditions and the reduced form is highly toxic for most macromolecules and in biological systems. During evolution, micro-organisms have developed strategies to acquire iron from both the environment and superior organisms, including direct uptake of iron ions from exogenous iron/heme sources and the synthesis of siderophores. Siderophores are defined as low molecular weight, ferric ion specific chelating agent produced by bacteria and fungi growing under iron stressed conditions. Siderophores have been related to virulence mechanisms in bacteria and fungi pathogenic to both animals and plants. The present review paper aims at presenting and discussing the latest achievements in siderophore production, isolation and structure, as well as applications of these molecules in therapies against iron-related diseases, and their applications as antimicrobial-, anti-parasite- and anti-tumor agents and those in the field of agriculture.