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Microbiology and Molecular Biology... Dec 1998The recent sequencing of the entire genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae has attracted considerable attention to the molecular biology of mycoplasmas, the... (Review)
Review
The recent sequencing of the entire genomes of Mycoplasma genitalium and M. pneumoniae has attracted considerable attention to the molecular biology of mycoplasmas, the smallest self-replicating organisms. It appears that we are now much closer to the goal of defining, in molecular terms, the entire machinery of a self-replicating cell. Comparative genomics based on comparison of the genomic makeup of mycoplasmal genomes with those of other bacteria, has opened new ways of looking at the evolutionary history of the mycoplasmas. There is now solid genetic support for the hypothesis that mycoplasmas have evolved as a branch of gram-positive bacteria by a process of reductive evolution. During this process, the mycoplasmas lost considerable portions of their ancestors' chromosomes but retained the genes essential for life. Thus, the mycoplasmal genomes carry a high percentage of conserved genes, greatly facilitating gene annotation. The significant genome compaction that occurred in mycoplasmas was made possible by adopting a parasitic mode of life. The supply of nutrients from their hosts apparently enabled mycoplasmas to lose, during evolution, the genes for many assimilative processes. During their evolution and adaptation to a parasitic mode of life, the mycoplasmas have developed various genetic systems providing a highly plastic set of variable surface proteins to evade the host immune system. The uniqueness of the mycoplasmal systems is manifested by the presence of highly mutable modules combined with an ability to expand the antigenic repertoire by generating structural alternatives, all compressed into limited genomic sequences. In the absence of a cell wall and a periplasmic space, the majority of surface variable antigens in mycoplasmas are lipoproteins. Apart from providing specific antimycoplasmal defense, the host immune system is also involved in the development of pathogenic lesions and exacerbation of mycoplasma induced diseases. Mycoplasmas are able to stimulate as well as suppress lymphocytes in a nonspecific, polyclonal manner, both in vitro and in vivo. As well as to affecting various subsets of lymphocytes, mycoplasmas and mycoplasma-derived cell components modulate the activities of monocytes/macrophages and NK cells and trigger the production of a wide variety of up-regulating and down-regulating cytokines and chemokines. Mycoplasma-mediated secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6, by macrophages and of up-regulating cytokines by mitogenically stimulated lymphocytes plays a major role in mycoplasma-induced immune system modulation and inflammatory responses.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma Infections; Phylogeny; Virulence
PubMed: 9841667
DOI: 10.1128/MMBR.62.4.1094-1156.1998 -
Journal of Bacteriology Mar 2023Mycoplasma mobile is a fish pathogen that glides on solid surfaces by means of its own gliding machinery composed of internal and surface structures. In the present...
Mycoplasma mobile is a fish pathogen that glides on solid surfaces by means of its own gliding machinery composed of internal and surface structures. In the present study, we focused on the function and structure of Gli123, a surface protein that is essential for the localization of other surface proteins. The amino acid sequence of Gli123, which is 1,128 amino acids long, contains lipoprotein-specific repeats. We isolated the native Gli123 protein from M. mobile cells and a recombinant protein, rGli123, from Escherichia coli. The isolated rGli123 complemented a nonbinding and nongliding mutant of that lacked Gli123. Circular dichroism and rotary-shadowing electron microscopy (EM) showed that rGli123 has a structure that is not significantly different from that of the native protein. Rotary-shadowing EM suggested that Gli123 adopts two distinct globular and rod-like structures, depending on the ionic strength of the solution. Negative-staining EM coupled with single-particle analysis revealed that Gli123 forms a globular structure featuring a small protrusion with dimensions of approximately 15.7, 14.7, and 14.1 nm for the "height," major axis and minor axis, respectively. Small-angle X-ray scattering analyses indicated a rod-like structure composed of several tandem globular domains with total dimensions of approximately 34 nm in length and 6 nm in width. Both molecular structures were suggested to be dimers, based on the predicted molecular size and structure. Gli123 may have evolved by multiplication of repeating lipoprotein units and acquired a role for Gli521 and Gli349 assembly. Mycoplasmas are pathogenic bacteria that are widespread in animals. They are characterized by small cell and genome sizes but are equipped with unique abilities for infection, such as surface variation and gliding. Here, we focused on a surface-localizing protein named Gli123 that is essential for Mycoplasma mobile gliding. This study suggested that Gli123 undergoes drastic conformational changes between its rod-like and globular structures. These changes may be caused by a repetitive structure common in the surface proteins that is responsible for the modulation of the cell surface structure and related to the assembly process for the surface gliding machinery. An evolutionary process for surface proteins essential for this mycoplasma gliding was also suggested in the present study.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Mycoplasma; Microscopy, Electron; Membrane Proteins
PubMed: 36749051
DOI: 10.1128/jb.00340-22 -
Journal of Global Antimicrobial... Mar 2024Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma spp. especially M. hominis, U. parvum, and U. urealyticum recognized as an important cause of urogenital infections. Sake of the presence of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma spp. especially M. hominis, U. parvum, and U. urealyticum recognized as an important cause of urogenital infections. Sake of the presence of antibiotic resistance and a continuous rise in resistance, the treatment options are limited, and treatment has become more challenging and costlier.
OBJECTIVES
Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate worldwide resistance rates of genital Mycoplasmas and Ureaplasma to fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin) agents.
METHODS
We searched the relevant published studies in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase from until 3, March 2022. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical package R.
RESULTS
The 30 studies included in the analysis were performed in 16 countries. In the metadata, the proportions of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin resistance in Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma urogenital isolates were reported 59.8% (95% CI 49.6, 69.1), 31.2% (95% CI 23, 40), 7.3% (95% CI 1, 31), and 5.3% (95% CI 1, 2), respectively. According to the meta-regression, the ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin rate increased over time. There was a statistically significant difference in the fluoroquinolones resistance rates between different continents/countries (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the results obtained in this systematic review and meta-analysis we recommend the use of the newer group of fluoroquinolones especially levofloxacin as the first choice for the treatment of genital mycoplasmosis, as well as ofloxacin for the treatment of genital infections caused by U. parvum.
Topics: Humans; Ureaplasma; Mycoplasma; Fluoroquinolones; Levofloxacin; Ureaplasma urealyticum; Moxifloxacin; Mycoplasma hominis; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Ureaplasma Infections; Urinary Tract Infections; Ciprofloxacin
PubMed: 38016593
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.11.007 -
International Journal of Infectious... Jun 2023Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum commonly colonize the human urogenital tract, which may cause urogenital infections. However, infection... (Review)
Review
Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum commonly colonize the human urogenital tract, which may cause urogenital infections. However, infection by M. hominis, U. parvum, or U. urealyticum is rarely reported in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD)-associated peritonitis. Herein, we reported four cases of PD-associated peritonitis caused by these pathogens, along with a review of the literature. The four cases were female patients with recurrent "culture-negative" PD-associated peritonitis and were related to menstruation. M. hominis, U. parvum, or U. urealyticum was detected in the PD fluid of the patients by metagenomic next-generation sequencing. All four patients were cured by intraperitoneal tigecycline combined with oral azithromycin or minocycline. M. hominis, U. parvum, and U. urealyticum should be paid more attention in female patients with recurrent culture-negative PD-associated peritonitis, especially when the peritonitis is related to menstruation, sexual intercourse, or urogenital tract operation. Moreover, metagenomic next-generation sequencing can provide a reasonable method to identify the pathogen for culture-negative PD-associated peritonitis.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Ureaplasma urealyticum; Ureaplasma; Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma Infections; Peritoneal Dialysis
PubMed: 36948449
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.032 -
Journal of Bacteriology Nov 2014In recent decades, bacterial cell biology has seen great advances, and numerous model systems have been developed to study a wide variety of cellular processes,... (Review)
Review
In recent decades, bacterial cell biology has seen great advances, and numerous model systems have been developed to study a wide variety of cellular processes, including cell division, motility, assembly of macromolecular structures, and biogenesis of cell polarity. Considerable attention has been given to these model organisms, which include Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Caulobacter crescentus, and Myxococcus xanthus. Studies of these processes in the pathogenic bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae and its close relatives have also been carried out on a smaller scale, but this work is often overlooked, in part due to this organism's reputation as minimalistic and simple. In this minireview, I discuss recent work on the role of the M. pneumoniae attachment organelle (AO), a structure required for adherence to host cells, in these processes. The AO is constructed from proteins that generally lack homology to those found in other organisms, and this construction occurs in coordination with cell cycle events. The proteins of the M. pneumoniae AO share compositional features with proteins with related roles in model organisms. Once constructed, the AO becomes activated for its role in a form of gliding motility whose underlying mechanism appears to be distinct from that of other gliding bacteria, including Mycoplasma mobile. Together with the FtsZ cytoskeletal protein, motility participates in the cell division process. My intention is to bring this deceptively complex organism into alignment with the better-known model systems.
Topics: Bacterial Adhesion; Bacterial Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Mycoplasma pneumoniae
PubMed: 25157081
DOI: 10.1128/JB.01865-14 -
Tidsskrift For Den Norske Laegeforening... Jan 2016
Topics: Chlamydia trachomatis; Female; Humans; Male; Mycoplasma genitalium; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial; Ureaplasma urealyticum
PubMed: 26813809
DOI: 10.4045/tidsskr.16.0038 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology Nov 2018One hundred seventy-eight mycoplasma strains isolated from South African poultry flocks between 2003 and 2015 were identified by full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic...
One hundred seventy-eight mycoplasma strains isolated from South African poultry flocks between 2003 and 2015 were identified by full-genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and were classified as follows: (25%), (25%), , (23%), (14%), (10%), and (3%), as well as one strain (1%). MIC testing was performed on the axenic samples, and numerous strains of each species were resistant to either chlortetracycline or tylosin or both, with variable sensitivity to enrofloxacin. The strains of all species tested remained sensitive to tiamulin, except for one sample that demonstrated intermediate sensitivity. The mutation of A to G at position 2059 (A2059G) in the 23S rRNA gene, which is associated with macrolide resistance, was found in the South African and strains, as well as a clear correlation between macrolide resistance in and and mutations G354A and G748A in the L4 ribosomal protein and 23S rRNA gene, respectively. No correlation between resistance and point mutations in the genes studied could be found for Only a few strains were resistant to enrofloxacin, apart from one strain with point mutation D420N, which has been associated with quinolone resistance, and no other known markers for quinolone resistance were found in this study. Proportionally more antimicrobial-resistant strains were detected in , , and than in and Of concern, three strains showed multidrug resistance to chlortetracycline, tylosin, and oxytetracycline. Nonpathogenic poultry species are often overlooked due to their lesser impact on poultry health and production compared to the OIE-listed pathogenic strains and The use of antimicrobials as in-feed growth promoters and for the control of mycoplasmosis is common in poultry production across the world. Here, we provide evidence that certain nonpathogenic species are acquiring multidrug resistance traits. This would have significant implications if these species, for which no vaccines are applied, are able to transfer their antibiotic resistance genes to other mycoplasmas and bacteria that may enter the human food chain.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chickens; Chlortetracycline; Diterpenes; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma Infections; Phylogeny; Poultry Diseases; South Africa; Tylosin
PubMed: 30171000
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.01660-18 -
Microbial Genomics Oct 2023is a fast-growing species isolated from wild and first described in 2013. isolates have been associated with arthritis, kerato conjunctivitis, pneumonia and...
is a fast-growing species isolated from wild and first described in 2013. isolates have been associated with arthritis, kerato conjunctivitis, pneumonia and septicemia, but were also recovered from apparently healthy animals. To better understand what defines this species, we performed a genomic survey on 14 strains collected from free-ranging or zoo-housed animals between 1987 and 2017, mostly in Europe. The average chromosome size of the strains was 1,040±0,024 kbp, with 24 % G+C and 852±31 CDS. The core genome and pan-genome of the species contained 628 and 1312 protein families, respectively. The strains displayed a relatively closed pan-genome, with many features and putative virulence factors shared with species from the cluster, including the MIB-MIP Ig cleavage system, a repertoire of DUF285 surface proteins and a complete biosynthetic pathway for galactan. genomes were found to be mostly syntenic, although repertoires of mobile genetic elements, including Mycoplasma Integrative and Conjugative Elements, insertion sequences, and a single plasmid varied. Phylogenetic- and gene content analyses confirmed that was closer to the cluster than to the ruminant species and . Ancestral genome reconstruction showed that the emergence of the species was associated with the gain of 17 gene families, some of which encode defence enzymes and surface proteins, and the loss of 25 others, some of which are involved in sugar transport and metabolism. This comparative study suggests that the cluster could be extended to include . We also find evidence that the specific organization and structure of the DnaA boxes around the of may contribute to drive the remarkable fast growth of this minimal bacterium.
Topics: Animals; Genome, Bacterial; Phylogeny; Mycoplasma mycoides; Mycoplasma; Ruminants; Genomics; Membrane Proteins
PubMed: 37823548
DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001112 -
The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics :... Sep 2012Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species are well-known human pathogens responsible for a broad array of inflammatory conditions involving the respiratory and urogenital tracts... (Review)
Review
Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species are well-known human pathogens responsible for a broad array of inflammatory conditions involving the respiratory and urogenital tracts of neonates, children, and adults. Greater attention is being given to these organisms in diagnostic microbiology, largely as a result of improved methods for their laboratory detection, made possible by powerful molecular-based techniques that can be used for primary detection in clinical specimens. For slow-growing species, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium, molecular-based detection is the only practical means for rapid microbiological diagnosis. Most molecular-based methods used for detection and characterization of conventional bacteria have been applied to these organisms. A complete genome sequence is available for one or more strains of all of the important human pathogens in the Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma genera. Information gained from genome analyses and improvements in efficiency of DNA sequencing are expected to significantly advance the field of molecular detection and genotyping during the next few years. This review provides a summary and critical review of methods suitable for detection and characterization of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas of humans, with emphasis on molecular genotypic techniques.
Topics: Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma Infections; Ureaplasma; Ureaplasma Infections
PubMed: 22819362
DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2012.06.001 -
Bioengineered 2012
Topics: Algorithms; Computer Simulation; Models, Biological; Mycoplasma genitalium; Systems Biology
PubMed: 23099453
DOI: 10.4161/bioe.22367