Stone formation by Ureaplasma urealyticum in human urine and its prevention by urease inhibitors

Abstract

When Ureaplasma urealyticum T-960 was inoculated into normal human urine (10(8) viable cells per ml of urine), a white precipitate formed, with an increase in pH of the infected urine. This precipitate was identified as a mixture of struvite and whitelockite by analysis of the infrared spectrum. Its formation was completely prevented by the addition of 10 microM N-benzoylphosphotriamide, 20 microM N-isopentenoylphosphotriamide, or 0.5 mM caprylohydroxamic acid without the alkalinization of the urine, and the Ureaplasma color change units were also decreased markedly by these compounds. The apparent concentrations for 50% inhibition by N-benzoylphosphotriamide,N-isopentenolyphosphotriamide, and caprylohydroxamic acid against Ureaplasma urease were 7 nM, 2 nM, and 2.2 microM, respectively. From these results, it seems that stone formation by U. urealyticum is prevented with these compounds, that prevention being directly attributable to the inhibition of urease activity, which causes the death of the cells.