Proteus
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Proteus infection Microchapters |
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P. mirabilis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview[edit | edit source]
Proteus is a urease-producing, motile, nitrite-reducing, hydrogen sulfide-producing, catalase-positive, facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative bacillus. It can be found in soil, water, and fecal matter. It inhabits the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, and is considered an opportunistic pathogen of humans. Transmission to the human host (usually urinary tract) typically occurs via self-contamination.
Taxonomy[edit | edit source]
Kingdom: Bacteria; Phylum: Proteobacteria; Class: Gamma proteobacteria; Order: Enterobacteriales; Family: Enterobacteria; Genus: Proteus; Species: Proteus mirabilis
Genome[edit | edit source]
- Proteus contains more than 3,658 coding sequences with 7 rRNA loci.[1]
- Total genome length is 4.063 Mb (28.8% GC content).[1]
- Proteus contains a single plasmid that contains 26,298 nucleotides.[1]
Microbiological Characteristics[edit | edit source]
- Proteus is a urease-producing, motile, nitrite-reducing, hydrogen sulfide-producing, catalase-positive, facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative bacillus.
- It grows optimally at 40 °C (104 °F).
- It produces hydrogen sulfide gas, and forms clear films on growth media. It is motile, possessing peritrichous flagella, and is known for its swarming ability. It is commonly found in the intestinal tracts of humans. P. mirabilis is not pathogenic in guinea pigs or chickens.
- Characteristically, Proteus can inhibit the growth of other strains in culture media, resulting in a macroscopically visible line (Dienes line) of reduced bacterial growth where two swarming strains intersect.
- The following table summarizes the microbiological characteristics of Proteus:
| Test | Result |
| Indole | Negative |
| Nitrate reductase | Positive (no formation of gas bubbles) |
| Methyl red | Positive |
| Voges-Proskauer | Negative (may be positive) |
| Catalase | Positive |
| Cytochrome oxidase | Negative |
| Phenylalanine deaminase | Positive |
| Tryptophan | Negative |
| Urea (Harnstoff test) | Positive |
| Casein | Negative |
| Starch | Negative |
| Hydrogen sulfide | Positive |
| Citrate agar | Negative |
| Ornithine decarboxylase | Positive |
| Lysine decarboxylase | Negative |
| Glucose fermentation | Positive |
| Amygdalin fermentation | Positive |
| Mannitol fermentation | Negative |
| Lactose fermentation | Negative |
Natural Reservoir[edit | edit source]
- Proteus can be found in soil, water, and fecal matter.
- It inhabits the intestinal tracts of humans and animals, and is considered an opportunistic pathogen of humans.
Transmission[edit | edit source]
- Proteus is usually transmitted to the human host by self-contamination (e.g. fecal material from gastrointestinal tract to genitourinary tract).
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Pearson MM, Sebaihia M, Churcher C, Quail MA, Seshasayee AS, Luscombe NM; et al. (2008). "Complete genome sequence of uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis, a master of both adherence and motility". J Bacteriol. 190 (11): 4027–37. doi:10.1128/JB.01981-07. PMC 2395036. PMID 18375554.
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