The Role of Urease Activity on Biofilm Formation by Staphylococcus sp. T-02 Isolated from the Toilet Bowl

Abstract

Urolith, which consists of dirty yellow-colored attachments on the toilet bowl, is associated with a variety of odorous chemicals, including ammonia, and causes disadvantages in daily life. Although largely it is derived from microorganisms, little is known about the microbial processes underlying the formation of urolith. In order to gain insight into the types and the activities of microorganisms present in urolith, culturable bacteria were isolated, identified, and physiologically characterized. One of the isolates exhibited higher ability to produce ammonia when it was grown in artificial urine medium. Phylogenetic and physiological analyses indicated that this strain (T-02) belonged to a new group of Staphylococcus species, showing combined phenotypes as between S. lentus and S. xylosus. T-02 exhibited high urease activity and was capable of growing in the urinary condition by forming robust biofilms. The results of this study indicate that T-02 has successfully adapted itself to the environment of urolith.