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A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycoplasma arthritidis Contents [hide]

   * 1 Classification
         o 1.1 Higher order taxa
         o 1.2 Species
   * 2 Description and significance
   * 3 Genome structure
   * 4 Cell structure and metabolism
   * 5 Ecology
   * 6 Pathology
   * 7 Application to Biotechnology
   * 8 Current Research
   * 9 References

Classification Higher order taxa

Cellular organisms; Bacteria; Firmicutes; Mollicutes; Mycoplasmatales; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasma arthritidis

NCBI: Taxonomy Mycoplasma arthritidis

Strains

Rats:158L3-1 Mice:158L3-1

Description and significance

Among all prokaryotes, Mycoplasma is the smallest genus that is capable of self-replication. Comparing to other bacteria, Mycoplasma has the smallest genome size, which is about 1/5 size of E. coli. Currently, there are more than 70 species with size range from 0.125-0.82 microns and more than 150 species in total. Mycoplasma has many different structual forms: filamentous, coccoidal, spherical and granular. In fact, the word, "Mycoplasma" comes from its filamentous and branching structures, which literally means "fungus form." Mycoplasma is separated into a different taxonomic group mainly because of its two unique characteristics, which are small genome size and lack of cell wall. This lacking of cell wall provides plasticity, which means that its adaptation to the environment is more flexible. Due to the lack of cell wall, Mycoplasma evolves to form a more well-adavanced cell membrane for its immune response and parasitic nature. Early studies of Mycoplasma were discovered while isolating a species that was a bovine pathogen in 1898. The discovery of Mycoplasma eventually led to the discovery of one of its species Mycoplasma arthritidis. The research on Mycoplasma arthritidis is still new, and its genome sequence is still in progress. However, its genome size is found to be 840kb, GC content is 31% of DNA, and its habitat is rodents.

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