Proteus Vulgaris belongs to the genus Proteus and can be defined as an aerobic chemogeterotroph bacterium, which has a rod-like shape and is identified as Gram-negative (Ghaidaa et al. 8). As far as the size of the bacterium is concerned, most of the specimens of P. Vulgaris traditionally range from 0.4–0.6 μm to 1.2–2.5 μm (Ghaidaa et al. 8). P. Vulgaris inhabits not only soil, dust, and water, but also a variety of food products, mostly the ones containing meat. In addition, P. Vulgaris can emerge in the intestines of animals.
The bacterium in question can be identified as pathogenic, or, to be more specific, a virus of an opportunistic pathogen nature. Specifically, the virus in question may trigger a urinary tract infection, may contribute to the development of pneumonia, or even lead to the emergence of septicemia in the patient’s blood.
When it comes to defining the features of the bacterium, which make it a major threat to people, the fact that it possesses the elements known as precious flagella needs to be brought up. The results of flagella’s activities may vary, yet in most cases, they are destructive to the person contracting it.
The fact that P. Vulgaris is characterized by swarming growth and, therefore, is capable of surviving in natural conditions easily, proves that the subject matter is an obvious threat to people’s physical health. The specified feature of P. Vulgaris is especially dangerous to human health, as the unceasing movement of the bacteria leads to the process of growth and division; as a result, the cells in question contribute to very clear zoning of the colony. It should be noted, though, that the cells require the temperature of 20°C–40°C, the maximum growth rates being observed at the temperature of 37°C, whereas, when the temperature is increased, the cells of the P. Vulgaris are destroyed (Kim et al. 44).
In terms of the effects of the bacterium in question on the human body, the threat of developing urinary tract infections and even severe abscesses (Ghaidaa et al. 8) needs to be mentioned. In other words, the bacterium in question may trigger a variety of effects in the human body, starting from comparatively mild ones, such as swelling, up to major traumas.
Particularly, P. Vulgaris may cause severe diarrheal diseases in patients, causing a major disruption of the intestinal flora and, therefore, the function of the intestine. In addition, the above-mentioned urinary tract contraction needs to be listed among the key threats. By spreading its colonies into the areas in question, P. Vulgaris affects the immune system at a very deep level, therefore, causing major disruption in the human organism. The fact that P. Vulgaris is resistant to most antibiotics makes the process of fighting it extremely complicated.
It should also be borne in mind that P. Vulgaris may cause severe sinus and respiratory diseases. More importantly, the process of eradicating the specified diseases in patients may take a comparatively large amount of time, i.e., weeks and even months. P. Vulgaris may also trigger wound infections. The development of cystitis should also be viewed as a significant threat that P. Vulgaris poses to people. Finally, the bacterium in question attacks kidneys by causing pyelonephritis (O’Hara et al. 537). Finally, cystitis and prostatitis can be viewed as a possible prognosis in the case of contracting P. Vulgaris.
Works Cited
Ghaidaa, Mohammed, Wang Yanchang, and Hindi Abdallah. “The Effect of P-Nitrophenylglycerol on Swarming and the Production of Some Virulence Factors in Proteus Vulgaris.” New York Science Journal 6.9 (2013), 8–14. Print.
Kim, Namjoon, Youngjin Choi, Seunho Jung, and Sunghyun Kim. “Development of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Proteus Vulgaris.” Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society 21.1 (2000), 44–48. Print.
O’Hara, Caroline Mohr, Frances W. Brenner, and J. Michael Miller. “Classification, Identification, and Clinical Significance of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella.” Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 13.4 (2000), 534–546. Print.