STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN MICROSYMBIOCENOSIS

Aim. To study hierarchical structure of microbial microbiocenosis in tonsils accounting for the behavioral reactions of bacteria. Materials and methods. Intermicrobial interactions in 100 biocenosis on the surface of tonsillar mucosa were studied in healthy persons, carriers of bacteria and patients with chronic tonsillitis. Number of commands made by symbionts and directions of commands for modification (suppression, upregulation) of pathogenicity factors (hemolytic, lecitovitellase, lysozyme, and antilysozyme activity) was studied. Results. On the basis of cluster analysis of functional activity of symbionts 3 equations were created. Equation 1, which included total number of commands issued by each symbiont and their significance for expression of pathogenicity factors, allowed to differentiate of symbionts on dominants and associates. Equation 2, which included directions of commands issued by dominants and associates, allowed to give preliminary prognosis for biocenosis: predominance of commands for suppression of pathogenicity factors points to good prognosis for biocenosis, whereas whereas predominance of commands upregulating pathogenicity factors predicted the unfavorable prognosis. The final prognosis for the biocenosis was determined using equation 3 calculating coefficient of biocenosis' functional state (ratio of total number of commands for upregulation of pathogenicity factors to total number of commands for their suppression). Conclusion. Proposed methodical key for structural and functional assessment of biotope microsymbiocenoses is universal and could be used for prognosis of host's health.

microbial biocenosis, structure and function, intermicrobial interactions, pathogenicity factors, associative symbiosis