Proteus (bacterium)

Taxobox
color = lightgrey
name = "Proteus"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Proteus vulgaris" growth in MacConkey agar culture plate
domain= Bacteria
phylum = Proteobacteria
classis = Gamma Proteobacteria
ordo = Enterobacteriales
familia = Enterobacteriaceae
genus = "Proteus"
genus_authority = Hauser 1885
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "P. mirabilis" "P. morganii" "P. penneri" "P. rettgeri" "P. vulgaris" etc.

"Proteus" is a genus of Gram-negative Proteobacteria, which includes pathogens responsible for many human urinary tract infections.cite book | author = Guentzel MN | title = Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Serratia, Citrobacter, and Proteus. "In:" Barron's Medical Microbiology "(Barron S "et al", eds.)| edition = 4th ed. | publisher = Univ of Texas Medical Branch | year = 1996 | id = [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mmed.section.1472 (via NCBI Bookshelf)] ISBN 0-9631172-1-1 ] "Proteus" species do not usually ferment lactose, but have shown to be capable lactose fermenters depending on the species in a TSI test, Triple Sugar Iron. Since it belongs to the family of "Enterobacteriaceae", general characters are applied on this genus: It is oxidase-negative, but catalase- and nitrase-positive. Specific tests include positive urease (which is the fundamental test to differentiate "Proteus" from "Salmonella") and phenylalanine deaminase tests. On the species level, indole is considered reliable, as it is positive for "Proteus vulgaris" but negative for "Proteus mirabilis". Some species are motile.cite book | author = Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th ed. | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | id = ISBN 0-8385-8529-9 ]

Pathogenesis

Three species—"P. vulgaris", "P. mirabilis", and "P. penneri"—are opportunistic human pathogens.

References