Detection of Proteus mirabilis using a newly de-signed GST-B primer for the Glutathione S-Transferase B gene

Abstract

Proteus mirabilis is an opportunistic pathogen causing urinary tract infections, which is the most important species among other members of this genus. P. mirabilis can be conventionally identified based on biochemical tests such as lactose fermenting, swarming phenomenon oxidase, and indole tests. In this study biochemical tests of 12 Proteus spp. isolates (6 P. mirabilis, 4 P. vulgaris, and 2 P. penneri) were studied. However, some strains exhibited different phenotypic characteristics, which may lead to misidentification. The aim of this study was to design a PCR primer that can be used specifically to identify P. mirabilis. The GST-B primer detected all 6 isolates of P. mirabilis. Suggesting that molecular identification is more reliable than conventional examination and the GST-B primer can be used to detect P. mirabilis specifically. For further studies, GST-B primers can be used to multiply the GST enzyme and study its functions.