It is well known that iron is critical for bacterial growth and pathogenic virulence. Due to chemical similarity, Ga 3 + competes with Fe 3 + for binding to compounds that usually bind Fe 3 + , thereby interfering with various essential biological reactions. In our present study, gallium(III) nitrate [Ga(NO3 ) 3 ] could repress the growth of V. splendidus Vs without complete inhibition. In the presence of Ga(NO 3 ) 3 , the secretion of homogentisic acid-melanin (HGAmelanin) in V. splendidus Vs cells could be increased by 4.8-fold, compared to that in the absence of Ga(NO 3 ) 3 . HGA-melanin possessed the ability to reduce Fe 3 + to Fe 2 +. In addition, HGA-melanin increased the mRNA levels of feoA and feoB, genes coding Fe 2 + transport system proteins to 1.86-and 6.1-fold, respectively, and promoted bacterial growth to 139.2%. Similarly, the mRNA expression of feoA and feoB was upregulated 4.11-fold and 2.71-fold in the presence of 640 µM Ga(NO 3 ) 3 , respectively. In conclusion, our study suggested that although Ga(NO 3 ) 3 could interfere with the growth of V. splendidus Vs, it could also stimulate both the production of Fe3 + -reducing HGA-melanin and the expression of feoA and feoB , which facilitate Fe 2 + transport in V. splendidus Vs.
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