If Psedomonas aeruginosa is tested in artificial urine and creates outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) will this affect struvite creation?
Date
2022-05
Authors
Brown, Erin
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Abstract
Kidney stones, which can injure the bladder, ureter, and kidneys, affect approximately 12% of the world’s population. Kidney stones that are struvite based are caused by upper urinary tract infections that involve ammonia-producing bacteria such as Proteus mirabilis and occasionally Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Struvite, also known as magnesium ammonium phosphate (NH4MgPO4·6H2O), is a mineral precipitated by the bacteria mentioned above in urine. This experiment examines the possible effect of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) in Pa effect struvite crystal formation. In previous research a 2 mL of a 1:10 dilution of ammonium hydroxide NH₄OH was added to vials of artificial urine that have various strains of Pa which formed struvite crystals in varying amounts and crystal habits (shapes). Using a phase contrast microscope and hemocytometers I have been able to capture the struvite at crystal habits; these habits are indicative of how fast the crystals are forming. And from there the percentages of different crystal habits and size of crystals in each sample can be found. The data analysis of the struvite crystal images requires more time as well as confirmation from other biological testing to make a conclusion about the suggested relationship between OMVs and struvite formation. This investigation could help treat UTIs caused by gram-negative bacteria that form OMVs.
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Keywords
Struvite, other membrane vesicles, kidney stones, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ammonium producing bacteria
Citation
Brown, E. T. (2022). If Psedomonas aeruginosa is tested in artificial urine and creates outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) will this affect struvite creation? (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.