Swarming Motility in Proteus Mirabilis: Causative Agent of UTIs: Difference between revisions
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Proteus Mirabilis belongs to the family Enterobacteriacae, which are gram negative, facultatively anaerobic rods that have the ability to grow in nutrient deficient environments. (microbio) Many species in the family are highly motile, with numerous flagella to allow for several modes of locomotion. Enterobacteriacae are also known to cause several diseases in both plants and animals. One example is the Erwinia species, which causes defects such as wilts and galls in an array of plants. (704) | |||
P. Mirabilis is normally found in the human intestine along with other organisms composing a highly complex micro flora. They also inhabit other outside environments, and are especially prevalent in hospitals and care facilities. Interestingly, P. Mirabilis have been known to inhabit the skin and mucous of both patients and personnel working in these environments, which may be the primary vectors for pathogenecity. (emed) Metabolically, P. Mirabilis is involved in urease production, which is then used to convert urea to ammonia in the following reaction: (NH2)2CO -> 2NH3 + CO2. P. This may be one of the reasons the pathogen is so successful in colonizing the urinary tract, and cause in infection in humans. | |||
Motility in P. Mirabilis is highly complex as they engage in several different kinds of movement depending on the specific environment they are inhabiting. Most of these movements are directly tied to the differential expression of flagellum and other factors. When in liquid environments, normal movement is facilitated by swimming. However, in more viscous and solid environments, P. Mirabilis have the ability to differentiate in elongated, multinucleated, highly flagellated cells, which then allows them to move together over solid surfaces at very high rates. (3) This activity, known as swarming, is a primary factor in the success of P. Mirabilis in causing complicated uriniary tract infections and other more serious bladder and kidney infections. (9) | |||
UTIs as a result of P. Mirabilis are usually a secondary result of long-term catheterization in hospitals, or with individuals who have structural abnormalities. (9) The bacteria’s ability to swarm over surfaces allows them to ascend up the urethra, eventually invading the bladder and kidneys. (10) P. Mirabilis infection then leads to more complicated problems, such as bladder/kidney stones. In rare cases, P. Mirabilis is able to enter the blood stream inducing a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which as a mortality rate of 20%-50%. (11) | |||
In addition to their adaptive mobile abilities, other virulence factors have deemed P. Mirabilis successful UTI causative agents. Their inhabitance in hospitals has led to several antibiotic resistance genes, making them very difficult to treat. Furthermore, their ability to forms stones in the organisms bladder/kidneys provide the bacteria with a safe haven that is impenetrable to antibiotics or the host individuals immune defenses. (9) Several methods have been developed to prevent CAUTI infection, however treating them is much more complex, as they are resistant to many of the most common types of antibiotics (penicillin, cephalosporin, tetracycline, etc.). Current research is looking into other possible routes of treating CAUTIS in an effective and simple manner, and targets the cell interesting swarming ability and other virulence factors. Understanding P. Mirabilis swarming ability in conjunction with other virulence factors may lead to greater advances in treating CAUTIs and reducing it’s prevalence in hospital settings. | |||
==Section 1== | ==Section 1== | ||
Revision as of 00:26, 25 April 2013
Introduction
Proteus Mirabilis belongs to the family Enterobacteriacae, which are gram negative, facultatively anaerobic rods that have the ability to grow in nutrient deficient environments. (microbio) Many species in the family are highly motile, with numerous flagella to allow for several modes of locomotion. Enterobacteriacae are also known to cause several diseases in both plants and animals. One example is the Erwinia species, which causes defects such as wilts and galls in an array of plants. (704)
P. Mirabilis is normally found in the human intestine along with other organisms composing a highly complex micro flora. They also inhabit other outside environments, and are especially prevalent in hospitals and care facilities. Interestingly, P. Mirabilis have been known to inhabit the skin and mucous of both patients and personnel working in these environments, which may be the primary vectors for pathogenecity. (emed) Metabolically, P. Mirabilis is involved in urease production, which is then used to convert urea to ammonia in the following reaction: (NH2)2CO -> 2NH3 + CO2. P. This may be one of the reasons the pathogen is so successful in colonizing the urinary tract, and cause in infection in humans.
Motility in P. Mirabilis is highly complex as they engage in several different kinds of movement depending on the specific environment they are inhabiting. Most of these movements are directly tied to the differential expression of flagellum and other factors. When in liquid environments, normal movement is facilitated by swimming. However, in more viscous and solid environments, P. Mirabilis have the ability to differentiate in elongated, multinucleated, highly flagellated cells, which then allows them to move together over solid surfaces at very high rates. (3) This activity, known as swarming, is a primary factor in the success of P. Mirabilis in causing complicated uriniary tract infections and other more serious bladder and kidney infections. (9)
UTIs as a result of P. Mirabilis are usually a secondary result of long-term catheterization in hospitals, or with individuals who have structural abnormalities. (9) The bacteria’s ability to swarm over surfaces allows them to ascend up the urethra, eventually invading the bladder and kidneys. (10) P. Mirabilis infection then leads to more complicated problems, such as bladder/kidney stones. In rare cases, P. Mirabilis is able to enter the blood stream inducing a systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which as a mortality rate of 20%-50%. (11)
In addition to their adaptive mobile abilities, other virulence factors have deemed P. Mirabilis successful UTI causative agents. Their inhabitance in hospitals has led to several antibiotic resistance genes, making them very difficult to treat. Furthermore, their ability to forms stones in the organisms bladder/kidneys provide the bacteria with a safe haven that is impenetrable to antibiotics or the host individuals immune defenses. (9) Several methods have been developed to prevent CAUTI infection, however treating them is much more complex, as they are resistant to many of the most common types of antibiotics (penicillin, cephalosporin, tetracycline, etc.). Current research is looking into other possible routes of treating CAUTIS in an effective and simple manner, and targets the cell interesting swarming ability and other virulence factors. Understanding P. Mirabilis swarming ability in conjunction with other virulence factors may lead to greater advances in treating CAUTIs and reducing it’s prevalence in hospital settings.
Section 1
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Section 2
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Section 3
Include some current research in each topic, with at least one figure showing data.
Conclusion
Overall paper length should be 3,000 words, with at least 3 figures.
References
Edited by student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 238 Microbiology, 2009, Kenyon College.
