[Utilization of siderophores from mycobacteria by Staphylococcus]

The ability of iron utilizing by means of siderophores (extracellular exochelins and cell-associated mycobactins) produced by mycobacteria (7 stains) by 24 staphylococcal strains was investigated. The mycobacterial donor strains belonged to rapid growing species: M. fortuitum, M. smegmatis, M. aurum, M. vaccae, M. chitae, M. phlei, M. parafortuitum. The utilization of mycobacterial siderophores was studied on agar or liquid media in which minimally effective concentrations of ethylene diamine di-ortho-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid (EDDA) were used to inhibit indicator staphylococcal strains. Mycobacterial siderophores (exochelins or mycobactins) reversed the inhibition of the majority (22/24) staphylococcal strains. Most of strains utilized exochelins from M. phlei as well as mycobactins from M. parafortuitum and M. chitae.