Medically important Bacteria: Part III- Proteus

Introduction-

Proteus sp., especially Proteus mirabilis, holds urinary Tract Infection as its most common manifestation of disease. It’s a gram-negative bacteria.

Determinants of Pathogenicity-

1) Endotoxin-
The Lipid A component of bacterial LPS (Lipopolysaccharide) is pyrogenic and serves as an endotoxin and causes pyretic effect by causing fever in UTI (Urinary Tract Infections).

2) Urease-

Urease, produced by P.mirabilis serves to convert urea into ammonia and neutralizes the acidity of urine and produce conditions favourable for growth of bacteria in lower urinary tract.

3) Cytotoxins-

These are the exotoxins produced by P. mirabilis killing away the epithelial cells of urinary tract, thus causing cytopathic effects.

4) Diseases-

These groups of bacteria mainly cause Urinary tract infections like:

1) Urethretis- Infection of urethra

2) Ureteritis- Infection of ureter

3) Cystitis- Infection of urinary Bladder

4) Pyelonephritis- Infection of kidneys;

They may be acute (usually by haematogenous spread) or chronic (either due to obstructive causes or loss of vesicouteric reflex)

Links-

1)http://www.bact.wisc.edu/Microtextbook/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=254&page=1

2)http://www.phageinternational.com/pathogens/proteus.htm

3)http://www.phagetherapycenter.com/pii/PatientServlet?command=static_proteus