Mycoplasma penetrans

From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource

Template:Mycoplasma penetrans

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Firmicutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma penetrans

Species

NCBI: [1]

Mycoplasma penetrans, Mycoplasma penetrans HF-2 strain

Description and significance

Describe the appearance, habitat, etc. of the organism, and why it is important enough to have its genome sequenced. Describe how and where it was isolated. Include a picture or two (with sources) if you can find them.

Mycoplasma penetrans looks like an elongated flask and has a tip-like structure at one pole of the cell.

Genome structure

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.

Mycoplasmas penetrans, like all of the other mycoplasma species do not have a cell wall and lack most of the genes that are required for nutrient metabolism. For this reason, they have adopted a parasitic lifestyle in different host organisms. They are flask-like with a tip like shape at one side of the pole.

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.

So far found only in humans, Mycoplasma penetrans is an intracellular bacterial pathogen. It typically penetrates into human cells and infects humans in the urogenital and respiratory tracts. It attaches to host epithelial cells with its tip structure, the attachment organelle. Mycoplasma penetrans is particularly associated with HIV-1 infection. There are Anti-M. penetrans antibodies found in patients in the process of developing AIDS, as well as, asymptomatic HIV carriers. There is a rapid decline in CD4-positive lymphocyte counts in M.penetrans-seropositive HIV-infected individuals. There is also mitogenic effects of M. penetrans on lymphocytes. This implies that infection of Mycoplasma penetrans will deteriorate the immune system in HIV infection. Mycoplasma penetrans has also been suggested to be a cause of non-HIV related urethritis and respiratory disease. Mycoplasma penetrans was also isolated in a healthy HIV- negative patient in the form of the HF-2 strain.

Application to Biotechnology

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

Current Research

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.


Sasaki, Y., J. Ishikawa, A. Yamashita, K. Oshima, T. Kenri, K. Furuya, C. Yoshino, A. Horino, T. Shiba, T. Sasaki and M. Hattori. “The complete genomic sequence of Mycoplasma penetrans, an intracellular bacterial pathogen in humans.” “Nucleic Acids Research”. 2002. Volume 30 No. 23 5293-5300

Lo, S.C., Hayes, M.M., Tully, J.G., Wang, R.Y., Kotani, H., Pierce, P.F., Rose, D.L., and Shih, J.W. "Mycoplasma penetrans sp. nov., from the urogenital tract of patients with AIDS." Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. (1992) 42:357-364.

Ferrer-Navarro M, Gomez A, Yanes O, Planell R, Aviles FX, Pinol J, Perez Pons JA, Querol E. “J. Proteome Res.” 2006. Volume 5 No 3, 688 -694, 2006. 10.1021/pr050340p S1535-3893(05)00340-4

Edited by Ling Tsay, student of Rachel Larsen and Kit Pogliano