Differential Inhibition of Mollicute Growth: an Approach to Development of Selective Media for Specific Mollicutes

Abstract

The energy-generating pathways of Mycoplasma spp. are diverse. Thus, it was predicted that the ability of inhibitors of these pathways to block growth would vary among species. This prediction was tested with 14 Mycoplasma species and potential inhibitors. The greatest differentiation among test species was obtained using fluoride, iodoacetate (IAA), ␤-fluoropyruvate (FP), cibacron blue (CB), L-citrulline, and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. A range of other potential inhibitors, including L-arginine analogues, had little inhibitory effect on growth, and D-arginine was shown to be a growth substrate for arginine-hydrolyzing species. Fluoride selectively inhibited the growth of mycoplasmas that were able only to ferment sugars to lactate and/or to hydrolyze arginine. In contrast, IAA was most effective against organic acid-oxidizing species, and Lcitrulline inhibited arginine-hydrolyzing species. Mycoplasma verecundum, a species for which energy sources have not been identified, was relatively resistant to FP. Similarly, Acholeplasma laidlawii was distinguished by its CB resistance.

Effects of subchronic oral toxic metal exposure on the intestinal microbiota of mice

“…The Mollicutes class has been linked specifically to diet-induced obesity [41]. These strains, which lack a cell wall, may be very sensitive to metal stress [42], and a recent study confirmed a significant decrease in the abundance of Mollicutes in heavy metalcontaminated soil [43]. The Ruminococcaceae family is one of the Table 1 Genus-level changes in the intestinal microbiota of mice during the experimental period.…”

Genome‐scale metabolic modeling reveals key features of a minimal gene set

“…While the genomic complexity of Mollicutes is remarkably low (Sirand-Pugnet et al, 2007), the number of necessary medium components to sustain their growth is rather high (Keçeli & Miles, 2002). The metabolic reconstruction reflects this reality with 84 extracellular metabolites associated with transport reactions (Fig 2 and Dataset EV4).…”

A PCR protocol to establish standards for routine mycoplasma testing that by design detects over ninety percent of all known mycoplasma species

“…Depending on the strain, one, two or all three of the above-mentioned pathways may be used. 14 , 15 Although minor phenotypic changes in the morphology of mycoplasma infected host cells are often caused by nutrient deprivation, these alterations are not easily noticeable when growth medium is replaced regularly. 13 , 16 Most importantly, mycoplasmas can interfere with normal cell physiology and signaling.…”