Transcriptome analysis of Bacillus cereus strain INRA C3 in response to iron depletion and lactoferrin, accomplished by RNA sequencing

The iron-binding glycoprotein lactoferrin exhibits anti-bacterial activity. To investigate the overall response of Bacillus cereus to lactoferrin, total transcriptome analyses were performed. Growth conditions were mMOD minimal medium, minimal medium plus 10 mg/ml lactoferrin, as well as minimal medium without iron source for comparison. Differential regulation of genes involved in iron acquisition as well as genes encoding enterotoxins and further virulence factors was of special interest. For subsequent RNA sequencing, strain INRA C3 was grown for two hours in mMOD minimal medium, mMOD-Fe (without iron source) and mMOD supplemetned with 10 mg/ml lactoferrin. Two biological replicates were prepared per growth condition.