Descriptive Chart

Culture No.: 61

Organism: Proteus vulgaris

Morphological Characteristics

Cell Shape: Bacillus (rod)

Arrangement: swarm

Size: 0.4 to 0.6 micrometers by 1.2 to 2.5 micrometers

Spores: no

Gram’s Stain: negative

Motility: yes

Capsules: no

Cultural Characteristics

Nutrient Agar: Colonies clumped together

Blood Agar: Positive for hemolysis

Agar Slant: positive for growth

Nutrient Broth: positive for growth

Gelatin Slab: positive for motility and liquefaction

Oxygen Requirements: facultative anaerobic

Optimum Temp.: 23° C

Physiological Characteristics

Tests ResultsF

erm

enta

tion

Glucose Yes; yellow

Lactose No; orange/pink

Sucrose Yes; yellow/orange

Mannitol No; orange/pink

Hyd

roly

sis

Gelatin Liquefaction Positive

Starch Negative

Casein Positive

Fat Positive

IMV

iC

Indole Positive (red floating layer)

Methyl Red Yes

V-P (acetylmethylcarbinol) Negative

Citrate Utilization Negative

Nitrate Reduction Positive after Zn added

H2S Production Positive (black)

Urease Positive (light pink)

Catlase Yes

Oxidase Negative

DNase

Phenylalanase ?postive (slight green)