Library · Microorganism
Proteus mirabilis
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Proteus mirabilis is a bacterium in the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is a bacillus, meaning rod shaped; it is gram negative, one of the bacteria that do not hold the dye in the stain used to classify them; and it is a facultative anaerobe, meaning it can live with oxygen or without it. The disease it most often causes is urinary tract infection.
It makes urease, an enzyme, and hydrolyzes urea, meaning it breaks urea down into ammonia. The ammonia alkalinizes the urine, raising its pH, and struvite stones, a kind of stone in the urinary tract, form only in that alkaline environment. It changes the water in the fish tank so the environment suits it.
It also moves in swarms and sticks to solid surfaces, including medical equipment, which helps it travel across those surfaces.
In brief
Proteus mirabilis is a gram negative, facultatively anaerobic bacillus in the Enterobacteriaceae family, and its most common clinical presentation is urinary tract infection.
It makes urease and hydrolyzes urea into ammonia, which alkalinizes the urine; struvite stones form only in that alkaline environment.
It changes the water in the fish tank so the environment suits it.
It also has swarming motility and sticks to solid surfaces, including medical equipment, which helps it travel across them.
Sources (2)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingProteus mirabilis Infections, StatPearlsPublished
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingStruvite and Triple Phosphate Renal Calculi, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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