Mycoplasma Specimen

Introduction

Mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma) are microorganisms that lack cell wall. They belong to the class Mollicutes , have genomes smaller and have a low GC content (18-40%). There are over 100 recognized species of the genus Mycoplasma.

Due to the absence of cell wall, they are not affected by some antibiotics such as penicillin or other antibiotics lactam blocking cell wall synthesis. The word, however once mycoplasma improperly designated other species of Mollicutes and is a possible source of confusion in the literature. The study of this kind is the mycoplasmology.

Discussion

The sexually transmitted diseases bacterial Mycoplasma (due to Mycoplasma genitalium and Ureaplasma urealyticum have been identified relatively recently, in the year 1980. They appear in full development in humans. Mycoplasma surpassed Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a cause of STDs among young North American adults and Ureaplasma is the leading cause of urethritis not caused by gonorrhea and chlamydia . As mycoplasmas were once difficult to identify or unidentified, it remains unclear whether this is an emerging disease.

The DNA of Mycoplasma ranges from 580 - 1380 kbp (kilo base pairs). They are parasites or commensals of vertebrates. Several species are pathogenic to humans, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a major causative agent of SARS and other respiratory disorders, and is believed to be involved in inflammatory diseases. Some may cause or contribute to some cancers.

The cholesterol is necessary for the growth of Mycoplasma species and some other genera of Mollicutes. Its optimum growth temperature is often the temperature of their host (eg, 37 ° C in man).

Mycoplasmas are frequently found in research laboratories as contaminants in cell cultures. Contamination occurs through people carriers or due to contaminated culture media.

Cell Structure

The bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma and its close relatives are characterized in large part by the lack of a cell wall. However, the shapes of these cells often conform to one of several possibilities with varying degrees of complexity. For example, members of the genus Spiroplasma have an elongated helical shape without the aid of a rigid cell structure on. These forms presumably can contribute to the ability of mycoplasmas to thrive in their environments. The cells of Mycoplasma pneumoniae are rounded and have a sharp protruding extension, which is involved in adhesion to host cells, the movement over solid surfaces and in cell division. Cells of M. pneumoniae are small and pleomorphic.

In animals they occur, apparently as a relatively harmless parasites on the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and genital organs (in mammals and birds). These organisms are parasites of the membrane, ie, firmly attached to the mucosal epithelial cells. They do not emit toxins, but because of their close contact with the walls of the host cells devoid of even a slightly toxic metabolic products such as ammonium ions and hydrogen peroxide, have an adverse effect on the membrane of infected cells.

History

Mycoplasmas were described in 1898, isolating Mycoplasma mycoides some cases of bovine pleuropneumonia. In the same century was isolated from sheep and goats, the second species of mycoplasma and are called "PPLO" ...