Mycoplasma mobile
A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma mobile
Classification
Higher order taxa
Cellular organisms; Bacteria; Firmicutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasma
Genus
Mycoplasma Mobile;
NCBI: Taxonomy |
Description and significance
Mycoplasma mobile, a flask-shaped piscine mycoplasma (approximately 1.0 x 0.3 µm), is thought to be pathogenic and was first isolated from a tench fish host. Mycoplasma mobile is known for its gliding motility at speeds as fast as 7 µm/second. Many of the mycoplasma organisms have this gliding motility, defined as “a smooth translocation over a solid surface,” but none as extreme as the ability of Mycoplasma mobile. M. mobile has been observed to move in the direction of the tapered end of the cell, known as the “head,” and glides at high speeds without reversing directions or stopping. M. mobile has also been found to be very strong, able to “tow an erythrocyte roughly 10 times its size, without significant loss in speed and has been measured to exert up to 27 pN of force ability.” Because little has been discovered about the genes responsible for gliding motility, scientists thought it would be useful to sequence the complete genome and proteome of Mycoplasma mobile. They felt that comparing the genomic sequence of M. mobile to those of other immotile or slower-gliding mycoplasmas could help paint a clearer picture of the gliding mechanism. The results of these analyses leave open the possibility that gliding motility might have arisen independently more than once in the mycoplasma lineage.
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
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Ecology
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Pathology
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Application to Biotechnology
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Current Research
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References
Edited by student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano