INFLUENCE OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI ON UREASE-INDUCED CRYSTALLIZATION IN HUMAN URINE

Urease was added to urines inoculated with Escherichia coli 24 hours e arlier and to control urines not inoculated with E. coli. The inoculat ion did not change the concentration of the measured urine components. The urease-induced ammonium ion production and pH increase was reduce d in E. coli-inoculated urines compared to control urines. This sugges ts that E. coli can inhibit urease. The precipitation of both phosphat e and magnesium on glass rods inserted in the urine was reduced with 4 0-50% in the E. coli-inoculated urines. The results demonstrate that E . coli can influence urease-induced crystallisation.