Microbiology: An Introduction, 11th Edition

Published by Benjamin Cummings
ISBN 10: 0321733606
ISBN 13: 978-0-32173-360-3

Chapter 16 - Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host - Study Questions - Critical Thinking - Page 477: 1

Answer

Transferrin is an iron binding protein which is present in the blood that transports and stores iron. Transferrin chelates with iron molecules, which leads to scarcity of free iron molecules in the human. Because microbes need free iron for their growth, transferrin inhibits the growth of these microbes, thus preventing infection.

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