Mycoplasma haemofelis

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma haemofelis

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasma

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Mycoplasma Haemofelis

Description and significance

Mycoplasma haemofelis was previously known as Eperythrozoon felis or Haemobartonella felis, and it was recognized as rickettsiae until the late 90’s (1). However, as more and more researches were done on this specific bacteria, researchers realized that the classification for the bacteria had to be changed. These bacteria were parasitic, contained flagella, had small genome, and most importantly, the lack of cell wall. Therefore, researchers moved the bacteria to the class Mollicutes and the genus Mycoplasma (7). Mycoplasma haemofelis was first discovered by Flint and Moss in the United States in 1953, and they first described these bacteria as pathogens of the felines.

Mycoplasma haemofelis is a parasite that resides on the surface of red blood cell on felines, and it is about 0.5 um in diameter (1). In blood smears, the bacteria may be shaped as rings, rods or circles; sometimes they cluster together and form chains of bacteria on the surface of red blood cell (7). Further, there are three hemotropic Mycoplasmas that can infect felines: Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum, and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis. As researches have shown, multiple infections of the above pathogens will increase the severity of the clinical signs of Mycoplasma haemofelis infection (3). The prevalence of the bacteria has been estimated among domestic cats, and the infection rate appears to be 4.9 to 23.3 %; yet the actual prevalence in not calculated because the infections are not always detectable. Common diseases caused by Mycoplasma haemofelis are feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV), and feline infectious peritonitis, and most importantly, feline infectious anemia (FIA) (1, 5). However, due to several metabolism pathways, the bacteria are hard to cultivate in labs, and they often contaminate other eukaryotic cultures (6). Details will be explained in the [Cell structure and Metabolism] section down below.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence? Does it have any plasmids? Are they important to the organism's lifestyle?

Cell structure and metabolism

Describe any interesting features and/or cell structures; how it gains energy; what important molecules it produces.

Ecology

Describe any interactions with other organisms (included eukaryotes), contributions to the environment, effect on environment, etc.

Pathology

How does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Virulence factors, as well as patient symptoms.

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