Crystallization of struvite from artificial urine in the presence of Proteus mirabilis microorganisms depends strongly on pH value. At small value of pH, struvite yields crystals of coffin-like habit with very specific structure. The analysis using scanning electron microscopy shows that the crystals possess well-defined faces, but higher magnifications show very specific structuration as if the crystals were built from small three-dimensional subunits. The possible role of microorganisms in the formation of such a structuration is analyzed. At higher pH value, the crystals exhibit dendritic growth with main trunk and branches. Although the formation mechanism of the specific structuration as well as dendritic structures is unknown, the nature of forces for such an alignment is analyzed. The revealed porous internal structure of struvite is also analyzed. The investigations provide evidence for the importance of biological regulation in crystallization process.

We describe the mineralization of struvite crystals from synthetic urine in the presence of Proteus bacteria. The presence of these bacteria causes a successive increase in the pH of the solution of synthetic urine. The effect of pH on the growth morphology of struvite crystals is studied. The results show that for pH in the range approximately from 7.5 to 9.0 struvite crystals take single and hemimorphic morphology. Crystal faces are different at opposite ends of the crystallographic c-axis, and thus polar crystal properties are permitted. At higher pH, many twin and dendritic crystals have been observed. It is suggested that the growth of dendrite is related with the bacterial substances which may serve as the sites for heterogeneous nucleation. The growth of single crystals is analyzed from a theoretical point of view based on relative growth rates.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis (TB). Importantly and in direct relevance to the objectives of this report quite a few findings suggest that the presence of IL-8 may be beneficial for the host. IL-8 may aid with mounting an adequate response during infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb); however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. The major goal of our study was to investigate the contribution of IL-8 to the inflammatory processes that are typically elicited in patients with TB. We have shown for the first time that IL-8 can directly bind to tubercle bacilli. We have also demonstrated that association of IL-8 with M. tb molecules leads to the augmentation of the ability of leukocytes (neutrophils and macrophages) to phagocyte and kill these bacilli. In addition, we have shown that significant amount of IL-8 present in the blood of TB patients associates with erythrocytes. Finally, we have noted that IL-8 is the major chemokine responsible for recruiting T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells). In summary, our data suggest that the association of IL-8 with M. tb molecules may modify and possibly enhance the innate immune response in patients with TB.