Hello,
we are Proteus mirabilis. We cause urinary track infections.
We can also cause wound infections, septicemia and pneumonias,
mostly in hospitalized patients.
Normally we are found in the intestinal track, where we cause our human hosts no problems. But in a urinary track infection, we produce en enzyme called urease that hydrolyzes urea to ammonia and therefore makes the urine more alkaline. This results in the formation of crystals. These stones grow in size and can cause an obstruction that leads to kidney failure. Patients suffering from an infection will give off a charecteristic bad smell.
We are charecterised by our swarming motility, which is the ability of bacteria to move on a solid surface. Our numerous flagella allow us to get about and look pretty cool too.
