Proteus is a gram-negative bacteria belonging to the family <em>Enterobacteriaceae</em>. The Enterobacteriaceae family are gram negative rod, facultatively aerobic, nonsporulating and oxidase negative. They ferment glucose.
The oxidase test is used to differentiate between member of the family and <em>Pseudomonas </em>(<em>Pseudomonas </em>is oxidase positive).
<em>Proteus </em>is known for its ability to swarm a culture medium due to its high motility (called swarming motility). <em>Proteus </em>is also urease positive, it produces the enzyme urease, which catalyses the breakdown of urea.
