chapter 16: mycoplasma

Question 1

mycoplasma size

cell wall?

Answer 1

tiniest free living organisms capable of self replication
smaller than some of the viruses

lack cell wall

Question 2

mycoplasma pneumoniae causes

Answer 2

walking pneumonia
-mild bronchitis and pneumonia

-cold agglutinins: igM Abs directed at common RBC antigen (I antigen), bind to thhem and cause agglutiniation

complement fixation test: fourfold rise in Ab titer btwn acute and convalescent samples is diagnostic of recent infection

sputum culture: tiny dome shaped fried egg appearance occurs

mycoplasma DNA probe

Question 3

2 species

Answer 3

mycoplasma pneumoniae and ureaplasma urealyticum

Question 4

ureaplasma urealyticum

Answer 4

loves swimming in urine
produces urease to break down urea
-T strain as produces tiny colonies when cultured
-part of normal flora in 60% of healthy sexually active women
-commonly infects lower urinarty tract = urethritis
-sometimes discharge