Effect of tannic acid on urease and protease produced from Proteus mirabilis

Abstract

Back ground: P.mirabilis is a gram negative bacterium, motile with its peritrichous flagella .Widely distributed in environment, especially in contaminated water and soil, Many virulence factors like LPS, urease, protease, hemolysin and biofilm formation play an important roles in the pathogenicity of P. mirabilis. Urease is a Nickel containing enzyme causes elevation of urine pH after hydrolyzing urea to ammonia and CO₂ forming stones that blocks the urinary track.

Aims: The effect of tannic acid on the production of urease and protease.                                                                       

Material and methods: Twenty one isolates of Proteus were collected from different sources, Clinical and animal sources all isolates were cultured on MacConkey and blood agar and identification of P. mirabilis by, Vitek -2 compact system. Determine the effect of tannic acid on the production of urease and protease.                                                                                             

Results: Twenty one isolates of Proteus were identified depending on Vitek-2 compact system, after identification, it turns out that only 18  isolate were P. mirabilis. All isolates were 100% able to produce urease and 72.2%  isolate were able to produce protease. The addition of tannic acid showed an inhibitory effect on urease and protease production.

Conclusion: The effect of tannic acid on urease and protease depending on concentration, type of strain, incubation period, number of isolates and truculence of isolate.