Overview of uropathogen virulence factors

The left hand side of this schematic bacterial cell represents uropathogenic Escherichia coli, and the right hand side represents Proteus mirabilis. Proteins that contribute to each mechanism of pathogenesis—immune evasion, toxin production, iron acquisition, adherence, and motility—are highlighted for each pathogen. Some strains of uropathogenic E. coli strains encode the proteins SisA and SisB, which suppress the host inflammatory response during early stages of infection. P. mirabilis produces urease, which plays a role in the formation of urinary stones.