Proteus sp. – an opportunistic bacterial pathogen – classification, swarming growth, clinical significance and virulence factors

Antoni Różalski; Agnieszka Torzewska; Magdalena Moryl; Iwona Kwil; Agnieszka Maszewska; Kinga Ostrowska; Dominika Drzewiecka; Agnieszka Zabłotni; Agata Palusiak; Małgorzata Siwińska; Paweł Stączek

doi:10.2478/fobio-2013-0001

Authors

Antoni Różalski University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Agnieszka Torzewska University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Magdalena Moryl University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Iwona Kwil University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Agnieszka Maszewska University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Kinga Ostrowska University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Immunobiology of Bacteria
Dominika Drzewiecka University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of General Microbiology
Agnieszka Zabłotni University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of General Microbiology
Agata Palusiak University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of General Microbiology
Małgorzata Siwińska University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of General Microbiology
Paweł Stączek University of Łódź, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Department of Genetics of Microorganisms

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2478/fobio-2013-0001

Keywords:

Proteus, pathogenicity, mechanisms of virulence

Abstract

The genus Proteus belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family, where it is placed in the tribe Proteeae, together with the genera Morganella and Providencia. Currently, the genus Proteus consists of five species: P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. penneri, P. hauseri and P. myxofaciens, as well as three unnamed Proteus genomospecies. The most defining characteristic of Proteus bacteria is a swarming phenomenon, a multicellular differentiation process of short rods to elongated swarmer cells. It allows population of bacteria to migrate on solid surface. Proteus bacteria inhabit the environment and are also present in the intestines of humans and animals. These microorganisms under favorable conditions cause a number of infections including urinary tract infections (UTIs), wound infections, meningitis in neonates or infants and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, Proteus is known as a bacterial opportunistic pathogen. It causes complicated UTIs with a higher frequency, compared to other uropathogens. Proteus infections are accompanied by a formation of urinary stones, containing struvite and carbonate apatite. The virulence of Proteus rods has been related to several factors including fimbriae, flagella, enzymes (urease - hydrolyzing urea to CO2 and NH3, proteases degrading antibodies, tissue matrix proteins and proteins of the complement system), iron acqusition systems and toxins: hemolysins, Proteus toxin agglutinin (Pta), as well as an endotoxin - lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Proteus rods form biofilm, particularly on the surface of urinary catheters, which can lead to serious consequences for patients. In this review we present factors involved in the regulation of swarming phenomenon, discuss the role of particular pathogenic features of Proteus spp., and characterize biofilm formation by these bacteria.

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