CellBioNewsFeb 19, 2025

How #Staphylococcus aureus 'steals' #iron from our #blood during infections.

#kleptophagy #kleptoparasitism #heme

https://phys.org/news/2025-02-staphylococcus-aureus-iron-blood-infections.html

How Staphylococcus aureus 'steals' iron from our blood during infections

Researchers have revealed how Staphylococcus aureus bacteria extract iron from hemoglobin—a process crucial to their survival during infections. Using a novel time-resolved X-ray solution scattering (TR-XSS) technique, a research team at the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, Grenoble, France, has identified the full sequence of protein–protein interactions during this iron "theft."

CellBioNewsFeb 19, 2025

#Orchid's #nutrient theft from f#ungi sheds light on #photosynthesis-#parasitism continuum.

#kleptophagy #kleptoparasitism #mycoheterotrophy #mycorrhizae

https://phys.org/news/2025-02-orchid-nutrient-theft-fungi-photosynthesis.html

Orchid's nutrient theft from fungi sheds light on photosynthesis-parasitism continuum

Most orchids live in a symbiotic relationship with fungi in their roots: The plants provide sugar they produce through photosynthesis and in return receive water and minerals from the fungi. However, some orchids have stopped producing their own food and completely feed on fungi.

Phys.org