Bioecology and pathogenicity of Proteus bacteria: A literature review

Abstract

The role of Proteus bacteria in human and animal pathology has increased significantly in recent years, causing acute intestinal diseases, respiratory, hearing, nervous and urinary systems, as well as contributing to the formation of kidney and bladder stones, postoperative complications, and nosocomial infections. The persistence of some issues, such as their properties and interaction with the microbiocenosis, remains a subject of debate even after a long study of Proteus bacteria. The research aims to identify promising areas for further study of Proteus microorganisms. The information from scientific primary sources on the results of studying microorganisms of the genus Proteus was used for the analysis. The study results of Proteus bacteria performed by domestic and foreign scientists on the knowledge of their bioecology and potential pathogenicity factors (adhesins, toxins, haemolysins, etc.), characterisation of the positive role of proteins as biodegraders of harmful substances – bioremediators of proper environmental ecology; substantiation of promising areas for further research of bacteria of the genus Proteus, which will contribute to the development of an effective methodology for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by them, the development of rational technologies for the use of their strains – bioremediators of the environment contaminated with harmful substances – are presented in the study. Further study of the genomic properties of Proteus bacteria will contribute to a clear understanding of the mechanisms of their potential pathogenicity factors and help to identify and understand the essence of the processes that contribute to the acquisition of new pathogenicity factors and drug resistance. The study of their interaction with representatives of the intestinal microbiocenosis of humans and animals will help to establish the nature of such interaction, determine the feasibility, prospects and rational directions in the creation of effective probiotics