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Visualization of Proteus mirabilis within the Matrix of Urease-Induced Bladder Stones during Experimental Urinary Tract Infection

Xin Li,¹ Hui Zhao,^1, C. Virginia Lockatell,² Cinthia B. Drachenberg,³ David E. Johnson,^2,4 and Harry L. T. Mobley^1*

Department of Microbiology and Immunology,¹ Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine,² Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine,³ Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21201⁴

Received 2 July 2001/ Returned for modification 4 September 2001/ Accepted 4 October 2001

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.

Editor: D. L. Burns

Present address: Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305.

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