Proteus mirabilis

Proteus

Antibiotics

Bacteria

Escherichia coli

Biology

Microbiology

Gene

Colonisation resistance

Immunology

Staphylococcus aureus

Gastrointestinal tract

Proteus vulgaris

Commensalism

Genetics

Biochemistry

Virulence

Clinical Microbiology Reviews

SUMMARY Proteus species, members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, are usually considered commensals in the gut and are most commonly recognized clinically as a cause of urinary tract infections. However, the recent identification of Proteus spp. as potential pathogens in Crohn's disease recurrence after intestinal resection serves as a stimulus to examine their potential role as gut pathogens. Proteus species possess many virulence factors potentially relevant to gastrointestinal pathogenicity, including motility; adherence; the production of urease, hemolysins, and IgA proteases; and the ability to acquire antibiotic resistance. Gastrointestinal conditions that have been linked to Proteus include gastroenteritis (spontaneous and foodborne), nosocomial infections, appendicitis, colonization of devices such as nasogastric tubes, and Crohn's disease. The association of Proteus species with Crohn's disease was particularly strong. Proteus species are low-abundance commensals of the human gut that harbor significant pathogenic potential; further investigation is needed.

Proteus spp. as Putative Gastrointestinal Pathogens