The influence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria on the interaction of opportunistic microorganisms with erythrocytes.

Getting into a weakened organism, non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTMB) contact not only with the cells of the microorganism but also with the microflora of the human body; however, these interactions are poorly understood. The purpose of this work was to study the effect of NTMB supernatants on the properties of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms in their interaction with red blood cells. We used strains of non-tuberculous mycobacteria Mycobacterium iranicum and M. rutilum, as well as strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Using the fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) method, the processes of adhesion to the surface of erythrocytes and the intra-erythrocyte penetration of cells of S. epidermidis and E. coli under the influence of NTMB supernatants were studied. To study changes in the haemoglobin molecule under the action of the supernatants of NTMB, spectral analysis was performed. Statistical processing was performed using STATISTIKA 6.0. The results showed that the supernatants of M. iranicum and M. rutilum increased the adhesion of conditionally pathogenic bacteria with a low level of AntiHbA to the surface of erythrocytes by 3-4 times. It also increased the intra-erythrocyte penetration of cells of S. epidermidis and E. coli relative to the control values. As a result of studying the haemoglobin spectrum of erythrocytes under the influence of M. iranicum, a decrease in the optical density values of oxyhaemoglobin by a factor of 2 relative to the values in the control sample was noted. Thus, the supernatants of NTMB have a multidirectional effect on the interaction of opportunistic microorganisms with erythrocytes, increasing the adhesive activity and the penetration of cells into the erythrocytes, as well as reducing the optical density of oxyhaemoglobin.