Mycoplasma bovis

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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma bovis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Cellular organism, Bacteria, Firmicutes, Mollicutes, Mycoplasmatales, Mycoplasmataceae,Mycoplasma

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Mycoplasma bovis

Description and significance

Mycoplasma bovis is the most pathogenic bovine mycoplasma in Europe and North America, causing a significant cause of bovine pneumonia, mastitis, arthritis, genital disorders,abortion. The completion of genome sequence of M. bovis is still in progress by TIGR and Univ. of Missouri-Columbia. It is very important to have its genome sequenced because it has ability to survive in such an extreme enviroment and the causes of hugh economical losses in cattle and milk production in both Europe and the USA. The harms caused by respiratory diseases in cattle is approximately a sum of 576 million Euros per year in Europe. M. bovis is estimated to be responsible for at least for the quarter or third of these losses. In the USA, this organism causes a loss of $32 million per year as a result of the loss of the weight gain and the diminished carcass value. The expenses due to M. bovis mastitis are estimated to be $108 million per year. Mycoplasma bovis was first isolated in the USA from the milk of a mastitic cow. due to the similar picture tothe contagious agalactia of sheep caused by M. agalactiae it got the name Mycoplasma bovimastitidis then Mycoplasma agalactiae subsp. bovis. Late following the examination of the 16S ribosomal RNA it was elevated to species rank and received the name Mycoplasma bovis. The global transportation of animals and sperm made this to be spread out to numerous countries.

Genome structure

The Mycoplasma bovis genome structure continues to undergo research. M. bovis is very similar to M. agalactiae in many aspects. The 16S RNA sequence shows only 8 nucleotides difference between these speices. The sequencing of the uvrC gene also revealed differences. In comparasion of pulsed field gel electrophoresis profiles, estimated genomic size of M. bovis was 961 &plusmn 18, 9 Kbp while M. agalactiae has 945 &plusmn 84 Kbp. It has a low G+C ratio of 27.8-32.9 mole%.

Cell structure and metabolism

Mycoplasma bovis is similar to Mycoplasma agalactiae in biochemical properties as it does not ferment glucose and hydrolyse arginine. However, it uses organic acids, lactate and pyruvate as energy sources for its growth. The film and spot formation can also been seen on the surface of solid media indicating the possession of lipolytic activity. The genus Mycoplasma is known as self-replicating organism and phylogenetically related to gram-positivie eurobacteria. M.bovis lacks a cell wall, periplasmic space, and contains a small genome. M. bovis was recently shown to possess a family of phase- and size-variable membrane surface lipoprotein antigens (Vsps). These proteins spontaneously undergo noncoordinate phase variation between on and off expression states, generating surface antigenic variation. The spontaneously high rate of Vsp phenotypic swithcing involves DNA reaarangements that occur at high frequency in the M. bovis chromosome. The on-off switching mechanism, the genomic organization and the structural features of the vsp genes has not yet been described.

Ecology

Mycoplasma bovis is faily susceptible to the environment. However, it is documented that M. bovis is able to survive for up to two months at 4°C in milk, for over two weeks in water, for 37 days in manure, for 2 days on wood and steel, and for 7 days on rubber and glass. M. bovis can be found in both the upper respiratory and reproductive tracts in both young and old cattle.

Pathology

Mycoplasma bovis is a bacteria-like organism that causes persistent, chronic infections in calves and cows. Diverse clinical manifestations, such as mastitis in cows and arthritis and pneumonia in young animals, genital disorders, abscess, conjunctivitis, otitis, and meningitis are possible infections due to M. bovis.The symptoms observed from infected calves are fever, depression, loss of appetite, hyperventilation, dyspnoea, nasal discharge and coughing.

Application to Biotechnology

Does this organism produce any useful compounds or enzymes? What are they and how are they used?

Current Research

Enter summaries of the most recent research here--at least three required

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by student of Rachel Larsen