Mycoplasma Flashcards
Mycoplasma general characteristics
No cell wall
evolved from Gram positive
pleiomorphic bacteria
difficult to manipulate in vitro
Human pathogenic Mycoplasma
M. pneumoniae M. hominis M. genitalium M. fermentens Ureaplasma urealyticum
Mycoplasma unique requirement
Require cholesterol- cant make cholesterol so much get it from host
Colony morphology of Mycoplasma
“fried egg” colony morpholoy
except M. pneumonia- round mulberry colony
Virulence factors of Mycoplasma
Hemolysins (alpha and beta)
adherence to ciliated respiratory epithelial cells
polysaccharide Capsule
Toxins
What toxin does M. pneumoniae produce?
Community Acquired Respiratory Distress Syndrome (CARDS) toxin- ADP ribosylating and vacuolating toxin
What is unique about M. pneumonia (of all the bacteria that cause primary community acquired pneumonia)?
M. pneumonia is associated with the appearance of cold agglutinins
Disease of M. pneumonia
atypical community acquired pneumonia
dry cough, fever, scratchy throat
“walking pneumonia”
leading cause of pneumonia in school aged children and young adults
M. pneumoniae diagnosis
Serology
PCR
Immune response to M. pneumonia
early response; IgM
late response: IgG
IgA in respiratory secretion and cell mediated immunity play a role in resistance
short term immunity
What are cold agglutinins and which bacteria is associated with it
M. pneumoniae
Cold agglutinins- IgM antibodies that agglutinate host RBCs at 4degC, not at at 37degC
during infection, some RBC antigens are damaged and not recognized as self anymore, and the host mounts a response against the RBC, Cold agglutinins represents a type of autoimmune response
Diganosis of M. pneumoniae
Serology: ELISA or latex agglutination assays for IgG and IgM
round mulberry colonies
B- hemolysis (M. pneumoniae have B-hemolysins)
Treatment of M. pneumoniae
Doxycyclines Ciprofloxin Levofloxin Erythromycin Azithromycin
M. Mycoplasma prevention
No vaccines- immunity is short lived (same reason as for chlamydia)
Which Mycoplasma cause genital disease?
M. Hominis, M. genitalium, U. urealyticum
all members of normal flora- opportunistic pathogens
acquired through sexual contact