The effect of acetohydroxamic acid on the induction of bacterial ureases.

The ureases of Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Proteus rettgeri are inducible by urea. Induction is increased when both urea and acetohydroxamic acid, an inhibitor of urease, are present during bacterial growth. Acetohydroxamic acid alone does not cause induction, but, by preventing the hydrolysis of urea, it minimizes pH increases and allows induction to occur much more effectively. The ureases of Proteus morganii and other bacterial genera are not inducible by this method. The relevance of our findings to the formation and management of infection stones is discussed.