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Veterinary Bacteriology & Mycology > Proteus > Flashcards

Proteus Flashcards

1
Q

What 3 Proteus species are of veterinary importance?

A
  1. P. mirabilis
  2. P. penneri
  3. P. vulgaris
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2
Q

What fermentation does Proteus undergo? How does it grow in TSI media? How does it respond to urease tests?

A

lactose non-fermenter

produces H2S gas

urease positive —> characteristic ammonia smell resulting from converting urea into ammonia

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3
Q

What causes the characteristic swarming pattern of Proteus on media?

A

highly motile with peritrichous flagella —> swarming (whole population movement)

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4
Q

How can identical and different strains of Proteus be differentiated when plated on media?

A

formation of boundaries - Dienes lines

(3 strains in pic)

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5
Q

How does Proteus move in agar media/solid surfaces? Liquid media?

A

SOLID: swarming motility

LIQUID: swimming motility of multicellular rafts of elongated, hyperflagellated swarmer cells with the ability to move rapidly

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6
Q

What 3 characteristics contribute to the serotype diversity of Proteus?

A
  1. O antigens (LPS)
  2. flagellin variation
  3. ZapA metalloprotease
    - all for immune evasion

(80 O-antigenic serogroups)

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7
Q

What is the host range of Proteus?

A

all vertebrates

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8
Q

What are the 2 main habitats of Proteus?

A
  1. human/animal GI tract, vulva, vagina, skin, and oral mucosa
  2. survives in the environment in feces, sewage, manure, polluted soil, water, and plants
    - indicator of fecal pollution in water and soil
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9
Q

What 6 surface structures of Proteus contribute to its virulence factors?

A
  1. fimbriae - adhesion, biofilm formation, autoaggregation, bladder and kidney colonization
  2. flagella - swimming, swarming (ascend into kidneys)
  3. LPS - endotoxin
  4. O and capsular polysaccharides - facilitates swarming, kidney stones, immunoavoidance, biofilm formation, sero-specificity
  5. biofilm - self protection
  6. invasin - internalzation into host cells
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10
Q

What 3 enzymes of Proteus contribute to its virulent factors?

A
  1. urease - urine pH elevation, kidney stone formation, crystalline biofilm production, nutrition/host sensing
  2. protease - antibodies degradation
  3. deaminase - alpha-ketoacid siderophore production, iron acquisition
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11
Q

What 4 toxins/proteins do Proteus produce to contribute to its virulence factor?

A
  1. hemolysins - cytotoxicity
  2. Proteus toxin agglutinin (Pta) - cell-cell aggregation, cytotoxicity
  3. zinc and phosphate transport systems
  4. siderophores - metal scavenging for iron and zinc essential for growth
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12
Q

What are the 2 major virulence factors that cause disease in Proteus infection?

A
  1. flagella elongation
  2. urease production
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13
Q

Why is the presence of urease considered Proteus’ most potent virulence factor?

A

converts urea into ammonia, which changes the pH of urine to a more alkaline one, promoting kidney stone formation

  • kidney stone formation (calculi, struvite) and catheter blockage = major complications
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14
Q

How do the species of Proteus affect disease presentation?

A

P. mirabilis —> struvite renal stones (urolithiasis), UTI

P. penneri —> nosocomial UTI, sepsis

P. vulgaris —> nosocomial UTI, sepsis

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15
Q

What virulence factors contribute to disease caused by Proteus?

A

PYELONEPHRITIS - fimbriae, AipA autotransporter, urease, IgA protease ZapA, Pta toxin, zinc uptake, hemolysin, flagella

CYSTITIS - fimbriae, urease, IgA protease ZapA, Pta toxin, zinc uptake, flagella

UROLITHIASIS - urease

CATHETER COLONIZATION/BLOCKAGE - urease, swarming motility, fimbriae

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16
Q

What is the dominant species of Proteus causing clinical disease? What are 4 common presentations?

A

P. mirabilis (90%)

  1. ulcerative lesions in GI tract
  2. septicemia with supperative and necrotic lesions
  3. septic thrombi and infarction of many organs, mainly kidney
  4. nephritis and pyelonephritis characterized by abscessation and scarring (struvite renal stones make up of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate)
17
Q

What disease is caused by Proteus vulgaris and Proteus penneri?

A

occasionally cause urinary tract disease

18
Q

Proteus infection at various anatomical locations:

19
Q

How can Proteus affect food?

A

food spoilage of raw meat, seafood, vegetables, and canned food
- grows in milk = curds, liquefies

20
Q

What are the main biochemical tests used to identify Proteus?

A
  • Gram - rods
  • oxidase -
  • MacConkey agar lactose -
  • H2S gas on TSI +
  • motility + with swimming/swarming
  • urease +

Veterinary Bacteriology & Mycology (47 decks)

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