Potential Influences of Bacterial Cell Surfaces and Nano-Sized Cell Fragments on Struvite Biomineralization
Date
2020-08-15
Authors
McLean, Robert J. C.
Brown, Erin T.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Abstract
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.
Description
Keywords
bacterial cell surfaces, polysaccharides, nanobacteria, outer membrane vesicles, lipopolysaccharide, proteus mirabilis, biofilm, microenvironment, Biology
Citation
McLean, R. J. C., & Brown, E. T. (2020). Potential influences of bacterial cell surfaces and nano-sized cell fragments on struvite biomineralization. Crystals, 10(8), 706.
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© 2020 The Authors.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.