Hemolytic Escherichia coli Inhibits Swarming and Differentiation of Proteus mirabilis

Swarming is a hallmark of Proteus mirabilis, whether common gram-negative bacilli affect the swarming of P. mirabilis is still unclear. In this study, we found that P. mirabilis swarming was inhibited by Escherichia coli ATCC25922, but was not affected by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. The migration distance of P. mirabilis when mixed with E. coli ATCC25922 was strongly reduced, and the inhibition of the swarming of P. mirabilis by E. coli ATCC25922 was dependent on cell density. In addition, initiation of P. mirabilis swarming was delayed by E. coli ATCC25922. Among clinical isolates, including gram-negative bacilli and gram-positive cocci, only hemolytic E. coli inhibited the swarming of P. mirabilis. In summary, hemolytic E. coli inhibited the swarming and differentiation of P. mirabilis.