VMC 311: Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology (2+1)

Systematics

MORPHOLOGY

• Class: Mollicutes (Soft skin)

Domain	Bacteria
Phylum	Firmicutes
Class	Mollicutes
Order	Mycoplasmatales
Family	Mycoplasmataeceae
Genus	Mycoplasma
Order	Acholeplasmatales
Family	Acholeplasmataeceae (not required cholestrol)
Genus	Acholeplasma
Order	Entomoplasmatales
Family	Spiroplasmataeceae
Genus	Spiroplasma

• Family: Mycoplasmataceae -Sterol or Cholestrol requirement for their growth
• Genus
  • Mycoplasma
  • Ureaplasma (hydrolyses urea)
• Division: Tenericutes
• The term mycoplasma that refers to the fungus-like forms of the branching filaments.
• They are the smallest and simplest prokaryotic cells capable of self-replication.
• The genome of mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas is the smallest for any self-replicating prokaryotic cells.
• They are 5x10⁸ daltons compared to the average bacterial genome of 2.5 x10⁹ daltons.
• These organisms lack the genetic ability to form a cell wall and are enclosed in triple layerd plasma membrane composed of protein, glycoprotein, glycolipid and phospholipid.
• As there is no rigid cell wall, the mollicutes are plastic, filterable and pleomorphic.
• Mycoplasmas are parasitic and pathogenic for animals. More than 60 species of Mycoplasma are known to cause disease in variety of animals.