Urease rescues cell death potentiated by acetic acid via ammonia generation in the presence of exogenous urea.

Three biological replicates of S. aureus JE2 WT and JE2 ureB::ΦΝΣ were cultured in TSB containing 45 mM glucose with and without 10 mM urea over 5 days. Every 24 h, (A) cell viability (CFU/ml), (B) extracellular pH, (C) extracellular glucose levels (mM), (D) extracellular acetate levels (mM), (E) extracellular urea levels (mM), and (F) extracellular ammonia levels (mM) were monitored and plotted with mean ± standard error of the mean [SEM]). Statistical significance was assessed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni post-test compared to WT + urea in (A), (B), (D), (F), and to ureB + urea in (E) at each timepoint; *** P 0.001.