Potential Influences of Bacterial Cell Surfaces and Nano-Sized Cell Fragments on Struvite Biomineralization

Crystals

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