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Transferable urease activity in Providencia stuartii

R B Grant, J L Penner, J N Hennessy

Journal of Clinical Microbiology

|March 1, 1981

Summary

Transmissible urease genes in Providencia stuartii were identified. These genes can be transferred to other bacteria, explaining previous classification challenges for urea-positive strains.

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Area of Science:

Microbiology
Bacterial Genetics
Plasmid Biology

Background:

Providencia stuartii is a bacterium known for its urease activity.
Previous classification of urea-positive strains has been problematic.
Urease activity is an important characteristic for bacterial identification and pathogenicity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the presence and transferability of urease determinants in Providencia stuartii.
To understand the genetic basis of urease activity in this species.
To resolve issues in the classification of urea-positive Providencia stuartii.

Main Methods:

Testing of six urea-positive Providencia stuartii strains.
Implantation with "helper" conjugative plasmids.
Conjugation experiments with Escherichia coli and urea-negative P. stuartii.
Plasmid analysis including molecular weight determination.

Main Results:

Two Providencia stuartii strains transferred urease genes to Escherichia coli and urea-negative P. stuartii with the help of conjugative plasmids.
Recombination between urease genes and a helper plasmid was observed in one instance.
A conjugative plasmid mediating both urease activity and ampicillin resistance was identified in one strain.
This large plasmid was successfully transferred and stably maintained in Escherichia coli.

Conclusions:

The study demonstrates the existence of transmissible urease genes in Providencia stuartii.
This finding provides a genetic explanation for the variability and classification difficulties observed in urea-positive strains.
The identified conjugative plasmid carrying urease and ampicillin resistance has implications for bacterial genetics and potential horizontal gene transfer.

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