Urease is produced by numerous taxonomically diverse bacterial species, including normal flora and nonpathogens. Also, urease has been demonstrated as a potent virulence factor for some species, including Proteus mirabilis (51), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (36), and Helicobacter pylori (23). Urease is central to H. pylori metabolism and virulence, is necessary for its colonization of the gastric mucosa, and is a potent immunogen that elicits a vigorous immune response. This enzyme is used for taxonomic identification and for diagnosis and follow-up after treatment, and is a vaccine candidate. Urease represents an interesting model for metalloenzyme studies. Before the discovery of H. pylori, humans were thought to produce "gastric urease.'' It is now known that the source of this notable protein is this bacterium, which colonizes the gastric mucosa of humans.
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