Conrado Adler, Natalia S. Corbalán, Mohammad R. Seyedsayamdost, María Fernanda Pomares, Ricardo E. de Cristóbal, Jon Clardy, Roberto Kolter, Paula A. Vincent

Bacteria produce small molecule iron chelators, known as siderophores, to facilitate the acquisition of iron from the environment. The synthesis of more than one siderophore and the production of multiple siderophore uptake systems by a single bacterial species are common place. The selective advantages conferred by the multiplicity of siderophore synthesis remains poorly understood. However, there is growing evidence suggesting that siderophores may have other physiological roles besides their involvement in iron acquisition.