Mycoplasma incognitus

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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma incognitus

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Tenericutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasma

Species

M. incognitus

Description and significance

Mycoplasma incognitus is a human cell invasive mycoplasma associated with several human diseases including AIDS and Rheumatoid Arthritis. M. incognitus is an immunomodulatory agent, which means it can alter the immune response by reducing the ability of the immune system to produce antibodies. This mycoplasma is highly pathogenic and can be passed from person to person via bodily fluids.

Genome structure

Mycoplasma incognitus acts as a parasite and gains most of its nutrients from its host. Due to this parasitic mode of life, M. incognitus has a very small genome consisting of only the genes essential for life. It is estimated that this microbe has less than 500 genes and could have a genome as small as 600 kb. Evolution and adaptation has allowed this microbe to lose the genes necessary for many assimilative processes.

Cell and Colony Structure

There have been frequent unsuccessful attempts at isolating a culture of M. incognitus, but it is known that the most frequently colonized sites are epithelial cell surfaces.

Metabolism

M. incognitus can utilize glucose both aerobically and anaerobically, and can metabolize arginine.

Pathology

M. incognitus is able to control a person's immune response and can either stimulate or suppress lymphocytes. It can also modulate the activities of monocytes, macrophages, and NK cells. Mycoplasma-mediated secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by macrophages, and up-regulating cytokines by lymphocytes, plays a major role in the inflammatory response.