Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2026

Isolation of Single Intracellular Bacterial Communities Generated from a Murine Model of Urinary Tract Infection for Downstream Single-cell Analysis
07:34

Isolation of Single Intracellular Bacterial Communities Generated from a Murine Model of Urinary Tract Infection for Downstream Single-cell Analysis

Published on: April 16, 2019

Proteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are important for both bladder and kidney colonization in mice

Pablo Zunino1, Vanessa Sosa1, Andrew G Allen2

  • 1Laboratorio de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, CP11600, Montevideo, Uruguay.

Microbiology (Reading, England)
|November 6, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Proteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are crucial for colonizing both the bladder and kidneys. This study found that PMF are widespread in P. mirabilis strains, playing a significant role in urinary tract infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Urology

Background:

  • Proteus mirabilis utilizes various fimbriae for colonization, with prior research suggesting P. mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) primarily aid lower urinary tract colonization.
  • The specific role of PMF in kidney colonization and their prevalence across different P. mirabilis strains remained unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of P. mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) in both bladder and kidney colonization.
  • To determine the distribution and expression of the PmfA protein in various P. mirabilis isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Generation and analysis of a pmfA mutant in Proteus mirabilis.
  • In vivo studies using two distinct mouse models of urinary tract infection.
  • In vitro bacterial adhesion assays using uroepithelial cells.
  • Assessment of PmfA expression across a collection of P. mirabilis strains from diverse sources.

Main Results:

  • The pmfA mutant showed impaired colonization in both bladder and kidney infection models, indicating PMF's involvement in both sites.
  • In vitro adhesion assays confirmed the role of PMF in bacterial attachment to uroepithelial cells.
  • All tested P. mirabilis strains, regardless of origin, expressed PmfA, suggesting widespread distribution and importance of PMF.

Conclusions:

  • P. mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are essential for the colonization of both the lower and upper urinary tract, including the kidneys.
  • PMF are a common feature among P. mirabilis isolates, highlighting their conserved role in pathogenesis.
  • Targeting PMF could be a potential strategy for preventing or treating P. mirabilis urinary tract infections.

More Related Videos

Establishment and Characterization of UTI and CAUTI in a Mouse Model08:40

Establishment and Characterization of UTI and CAUTI in a Mouse Model

Published on: June 23, 2015

Recurrent Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infection Triggered by Gardnerella vaginalis Bladder Exposure in Mice08:53

Recurrent Escherichia coli Urinary Tract Infection Triggered by Gardnerella vaginalis Bladder Exposure in Mice

Published on: December 4, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract01:28

Microbiota of the Urogenital Tract

The human urogenital system, once thought to be sterile in healthy individuals, is now recognized as a complex microbial habitat. Advancements in molecular sequencing techniques have revealed that even in healthy adults, the kidneys and bladder harbor microbial populations similar to those found in the distal urethra, albeit in much lower abundance. These resident microorganisms, while generally innocuous, can become opportunistic pathogens under conditions that alter the urogenital...
Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments01:28

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of pilin protein, these hairlike appendages are crucial for bacterial survival and pathogenicity in various environments.Fimbriae: Adhesion and PathogenicityFimbriae are fine, filamentous structures measuring 2–10 nanometers in diameter and are densely distributed on the bacterial cell surface. They facilitate bacterial adhesion to abiotic...