Crystals | |
Potential Influences of Bacterial Cell Surfaces and Nano-Sized Cell Fragments on Struvite Biomineralization | |
ErinT. Brown1  RobertJ. C. McLean1  | |
[1] Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA; | |
关键词: bacterial cell surfaces; polysaccharides; nanobacteria; outer membrane vesicles; lipopolysaccharide; Proteus mirabilis; | |
DOI : 10.3390/cryst10080706 | |
来源: DOAJ |
【 摘 要 】
Struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) calculi are formed as a result of urinary tract infections by Proteus mirabilis and other urease-producing bacteria. During struvite formation, the bacteria grow as biofilms, and thus crystals are formed in close association with bacterial cell surfaces and biofilm matrix components. Small nano-sized objects (originally termed “nanobacteria”) have been described in association with urinary calculi including struvite calculi. A much more likely explanation of these nano-structures is outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that can be produced by P. mirabilis and other Gram-negative bacteria. In this brief review, we describe the association of bacterial cell surfaces and biofilm matrix components with metal binding and the generation of chemical microenvironments during struvite formation; we propose potential mechanisms whereby OMVs can influence struvite crystal growth and biomineralization.
【 授权许可】
Unknown