title: Visualization of Proteus mirabilis within the matrix of urease-induced bladder stones during experimental urinary tract infection.
abstract: The virulence of a urease-negative mutant of uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis and its wild-type parent strain was assessed by using a CBA mouse model of catheterized urinary tract infection. Overall, catheterized mice were significantly more susceptible than uncatheterized mice to infection by wild-type P. mirabilis. At a high inoculum, the urease-negative mutant successfully colonized bladders of catheterized mice but did not cause urolithiasis and was still severely attenuated in its ability to ascend to kidneys. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated the presence of P. mirabilis within the urease-induced stone matrix. Alizarin red S staining was used to detect calcium-containing deposits in bladder and kidney tissues of P. mirabilis-infected mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: C Virginia
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Lockatell
authors.forename: Cinthia B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Drachenberg
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Harry L T
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Mobley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011513:Proteus mirabilis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014510:Urease / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001744:Urinary Bladder Calculi / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D000880:Anthraquinones; D004396:Coloring Agents; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C004468:Alizarin Red S; D014510:Urease; D002118:Calcium