Proteus mirabilis
Proteus mirabilis
Proteus mirabilis (pronunciation: pro-tee-us mi-ra-bi-lis) is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. It is widely known for its ability to produce swarm cells (elongated hyperflagellated cells) and differentiate into a swarmer (highly motile) and a swimmer (non-motile) cell.
Etymology
The name "Proteus" is derived from the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form, reflecting the bacterium's ability to alter its shape and size. "Mirabilis" means "wonderful" in Latin, referring to its extraordinary swarming ability.
Characteristics
Proteus mirabilis is part of the normal flora of the human gastrointestinal tract. However, it can also be a pathogen causing urinary tract infections, wound infections, and septicemia. It is known for its ability to produce urease, an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, leading to complications like kidney stones and urinary tract infections.
Related Terms
- Gram-negative bacteria
- Facultative anaerobic bacteria
- Rod-shaped bacteria
- Proteus mirabilis swarm cells
- Greek mythology
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Urinary tract infection
- Wound infection
- Septicemia
- Urease
- Kidney stone
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Proteus mirabilis
- Wikipedia's article - Proteus mirabilis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski