Lab Identification
According to laboratory conducted fermentation tests, P. vulgaris ferments glucose and amygdalin, but does not ferment mannitol or lactose. P. vulgaris also tests positive for the methyl red (mixed acid fermentation) test and is also an extremely motile organism.
When P. vulgaris is tested using the API 20E Identification System test strip for enterobacteriaceae (made by BIOMERIEUX), it is discovered that it provides a positive result for: sulfur reduction, urease production, tryptophan deaminase production, indole production, sometimes positive gelatinase activity and saccharose fermentation, and provides a negative result for the remainder of the tests on the testing strip.
It is referenced in the Analytical Profile Index using the nine-digit code: 047602157
The optimal growing conditions of this organism is in a facultative anaerobic environment with an average temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius .
The Becton/Dickinson BBL Enterotube II system for identification of members of the family Enterobacteriaceae inoculated with Proteus vulgaris may yield the following results: Positive for Glucose fermentation (with gas production). Negative for Lysine and Ornithine. Positive for Hydrogen sulfide production and positive for Indole production. Negative for Adonitol and Lactose. Negative for Arabinose, Sorbitol and Dulcitol. The Phenylalanine test was positive as was the Harnstoff Urea test. Proteus vulgaris tested positive for Citrate. All combine for a "Biocode ID of 31407" for use in the Interpretation Guide/Computer Coding and Identification System (CCIS). Note that Proteus vulgaris can also test Urease negative in solid media (such as in Enterotube), but will be Urease positive in liquid media. The CCIS code will still identify Proteus vulgaris with a negative urease test.
Read more about this topic: Proteus Vulgaris