Iron is an essential nutrient for the growth, survival and virulence of almost all bacteria. To access iron, many bacteria produce siderophores, molecules with a high affinity for iron. Research has highlighted substantial diversity in the chemical structure of siderophores produced by bacteria, as well as remarkable variety in the molecular mechanisms involved in strategies for acquiring iron through these molecules. The metal-chelating properties of siderophores, characterized by their high affinity for iron and ability to chelate numerous other metals (albeit with lower affinity compared with iron), have also generated interest in diverse fields. Siderophores find applications in the environment, such as in bioremediation and agriculture, in which emerging and innovative strategies are being developed to address pollution and enhance nutrient availability for plants. Moreover, in medicine, siderophores could be used as a tool for novel antimicrobial therapies and medical imaging, as well as in haemochromatosis, thalassemia or cancer treatments. This Review offers insights into the diversity of siderophores, highlighting their potential applications in environmental and medical contexts.

铁是几乎所有细菌生长、生存和毒力的必需营养素。为了获取铁，许多细菌会产生铁载体，即对铁具有高亲和力的分子。研究强调了细菌产生的铁载体的化学结构的巨大多样性，以及通过这些分子获取铁的策略所涉及的分子机制的显着多样性。铁载体的金属螯合特性，其特点是对铁的高亲和力和螯合许多其他金属的能力（尽管与铁相比亲和力较低），也引起了各个领域的兴趣。铁载体在环境中得到应用，例如生物修复和农业，其中正在开发新兴和创新策略来解决污染并提高植物的养分可用性。此外，在医学上，铁载体可用作新型抗菌疗法和医学成像的工具，以及血色病、地中海贫血或癌症治疗的工具。这篇综述提供了对铁载体多样性的见解，强调了它们在环境和医学领域的潜在应用。