Abstract
Proteus mirabilis-mediated CAUTIs are usually initiated by the adherence of bacteria to a urinary catheter surface. In this paper, three isolates of different origin and exhibiting different adhesion abilities were investigated in search of any changes in lipidome components which might contribute to P. mirabilis adhesion to catheters. Using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS techniques, 21 fatty acids and 27 phospholipids were identified in the examined cells. The comparison of the profiles of phospholipids and fatty acids obtained for catheter-attached cells and planktonic cells of the pathogens indicated C11:0 and PE 37:2 levels as values which could be related to P. mirabilis adhesion to a catheter, as well as cis C16:1, PE 32:0, PE 33:0, PE 38:2, PG 33:1, PG 34:0, PE 30:1, PE 32:1 and PG 30:2 levels as values which could be associated with cell hydrophobicity. Based on DiBAC4 (3) fluorescence intensity and an affinity to p-xylene, it was found that the inner membrane depolarization, as well as strong cell-surface hydrophobicity, were important for P. mirabilis adhesion to a silicone catheter. A generalized polarization of Laurdan showed lower values for P. mirabilis cells attached to the catheter surface than for planktonic cells, suggesting lower packing density of membrane components of the adherent cells compared with tightly packed, stiffened membranes of the planktonic cells. Taken together, these data indicate that high surface hydrophobicity, fluidization and depolarization of P. mirabilis cell membranes enable colonization of a silicone urinary catheter surface.
Highlights
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, dimorphic bacterium, belonging to the Morganellaceae family [1], known for numerous and varied virulence factors, such as invasiveness, swarming motility, urease, proteases and amino acid deaminases activities, synthesis of flagella and fimbriae, and production of hemolysins, capsular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide [2,3]
The bacterium induces a wide spectrum of human infections, including those of wounds, the eye, the gastrointestinal and the urinary tracts, it is most noted for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs)
The cell-surface hydrophobicity values were equal to 3%, 7.5% and 10.3% for 2 h cells of the P. mirabilis ATCC 29906, 1984 and C12 strains, respectively (Figure 1)
Summary
Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, dimorphic bacterium, belonging to the Morganellaceae family (formerly classified as Enterobacteriaceae) [1], known for numerous and varied virulence factors, such as invasiveness, swarming motility, urease, proteases and amino acid deaminases activities, synthesis of flagella and fimbriae, and production of hemolysins, capsular polysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide [2,3]. The bacterium induces a wide spectrum of human infections, including those of wounds, the eye, the gastrointestinal and the urinary tracts, it is most noted for catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). This opportunistic pathogen causes up to 44% of CAUTIs [2]. The catheterization period is recognized as a crucial risk factor of CAUTIs development. P. mirabilis-mediated CAUTIs are typically recurrent and complicated due to the formation of bladder or renal stones, acute pyelonephritis or kidney damage, leading to bacteremia, sepsis and even to death [3]
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