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Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Staphylococcus aureus Growth using Human Hemoglobin as an Iron Source
Published on: February 7, 2013
[Interaction between bacteria and erythrocytes and their role in the development of infectious anaemia]
Abstract:
The concentration of hemoglobin in blood of patients with pyoinflammatory diseases was shown to depend on the ability of bacteria to interact with erythrocytes. Bacteria with high hemolytic activity (> or = 70% hemolysis) and anti-hemoglobin activity (>3 g/1) were isolated from pyoinflammatory foci of patients suffering from anaemia. Structural changes were investigated in vitro and in vivo erythrocytes in terms of their interaction with microorganisms by electron microscopy. For the first time, the phenomenon of coccal location within erythrocytes was established. Staphylococci with a high level of hemolytic and anti-hemoglobin activity appear to survive and multiply within erythrocytes that results in destroying hemoglobin. Staphylococci with a low level of mentioned activities are subjected to destructive changes within erythrocytes and subsequent killing.
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