Helical Mycoplasmas (Spiroplasmas) from
            <i>Ixodes</i>
            Ticks

Tully, Joseph G.; Rose, David L.; Yunker, Conrad E.; Cory, Jack; Whitcomb, Robert F.; Williamson, David L.

doi:10.1126/science.7233197

Cited by 63 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 25 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…2B). All cells observed by electron microscopy were surrounded only by a single membrane and lacked cell walls (37). However, some sectioned cells also had a unique 8-nm-thick structure that was under the plasmalemma in the cell (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It seemed likely that these small helical cells were interpreted as small straight filaments when they were examined by dark-field microscopy at a lower magnification. Thin sections of fixed cells revealed primarily coccoid cells (diameter, 300 to 500 nm) or curved forms (37) (Fig. 2B).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The techniques used to prepare whole-tick suspensions for culture and the media used for primary isolation have been described previously (37). Seven of the pools (designated pools Y29, Y30, Y32, Y39, Y43, Y49, and Y107) yielded spiroplasma isolates, usually after incubation for 20 to 25 days at 30°C.…”

Section: Spiroplasma Strainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We described additional isolations of tick-associated spiroplasmas in 1981 (37), including primary isolation of seven helical mollicutes from triturates of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. While these organisms were isolated directly in SP-4 spiroplasma culture medium (43), a later report showed that most of the same isolates could be cultivated from stored triturates in several continuously maintained cultured tick cell lines (53).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Spiroplasma ixodetis sp. nov., a New Species from Ixodes pacificus Ticks Collected in Oregon

Tully

Rose

Yunker

et al. 1995

International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Eight strains of mollicutes were isolated from pooled suspensions prepared from western black-legged ticks (Ixodes puciJicus) collected in Oregon. Morphologic examination by electron and dark-field microscopic techniques showed that each strain consisted of a mixture of motile, tightly coiled helical cells, small coccoid cells with diameters ranging from 300 to 500 nm, and pleomorphic, straight or branched filamentous forms. All cellular forms were surrounded by a single cytoplasmic membrane, and there was no evidence of a cell wall. The organisms were filterable and fastidious in their growth requirements. The optimum temperature for growth was 30°C, but multiplication occurred at temperatures ranging from 23 to 32°C. The strains catabolized glucose but did not hydrolyze arginine or urea. The genome size of strain Y32T (T = type strain) was 2,220 kbp, and the DNA base composition (guanine-plus-cytosine content) of this organism was 25 k 1 mol%. The eight isolates were serologically related to each other but were not related to 37 other type or representative strains belonging to the genus Spiroplasmu. Strain Y32 (= ATCC 33835) is the type strain of Spiroplasma ixodetis sp. nov.Spiroplasmas (class Mollicutes) are helical, motile, wall-less prokaryotes that are associated with a variety of insects, other arthropods, and some plant hosts (11,38,51). Although members of the genus Spiroplasma are usually commensal organisms in their arthropod hosts, several are pathogenic for insects and plants (11, 12,24,29,30).The occurrence of spiroplasmas in hematophagous arthropods was first demonstrated in 1976 when two serologically distinct helical mollicutes (represented by strains SMCA and 277F) were identified in rabbit ticks (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) (4,41). Strain SMCA and two related strains were eventually characterized as Spiroplasma mirum (39). Strain 277F is serologically and genomically related to Spiroplasma citri and was assigned to subgroup 1-4 in an interim classification scheme for spiroplasmas (21,36,44). Subsequently, spiroplasmas have been identified in blood-sucking members of the Diptera, including horseflies (Tabanus spp.), deerflies (Chrysops spp.), and mosquitoes (Adedes spp., Culex spp., etc.). The current status of these organisms has been summarized in several recent reviews or reports (1, 10, 15, 18, 19,38,45).We described additional isolations of tick-associated spiroplasmas in 1981 (37), including primary isolation of seven helical mollicutes from triturates of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. While these organisms were isolated directly in SP-4 spiroplasma culture medium (43), a later report showed that most of the same isolates could be cultivated from stored triturates in several continuously maintained cultured tick cell lines (53). An extensive serologic comparison of the strains isolated from I. pacificus showed that these organisms are closely related to each other but distinct from other previously described spiroplasmas. Strain Y32T (T = type strain) was selected ...

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spiroplasma Strainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Spiroplasma ixodetis sp. nov., a New Species from Ixodes pacificus Ticks Collected in Oregon

Tully

Rose

Yunker

et al. 1995

International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Group IV appeared to be a widely distributed cluster of spiroplasmas, some of whose members, including type strain B31 (Spiroplasma apis), were pathogenic (19, 20) for honeybees @pis mellifera). Groups V (Spiroplasma mirum [30]) and VI (29) were associated with ticks. Thus, each of the first six established spiroplasma groups appeared to possess unusual biological and/or ecological properties.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spiroplasma monobiae sp. nov. from the Vespid Wasp Monobia quadridens (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Whitcomb

Tully

Rose

et al. 1993

International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spiroplasma strain MQ-lT (T = type strain) from the hemolymph of the vespid wasp Monobia quadridens differed serologically from other spiroplasma species, groups, and subgroups. Cells of strain MQ-lT were helical and motile and possessed a single cytoplasmic membrane, with no evidence of a cell wall. The organism grew in conventional mycoplasma medium, in serum fraction, SM-1, MlD, and SP-4 liquid media, and on SP-4 solid medium in either aerobic or anaerobic environments. The optimum temperature for growth was 32"C, but multiplication occurred over a wide temperature range (10 to 37°C). The doubling time at 32°C in M1D medium was 1.9 h. Strain MQ-lT catabolized glucose but hydrolyzed neither arginine nor urea. Previous work showed that strain MQ-lT has a unique methylase, previously known only in eucaryotes. Also, strain MQ-lT induces production of tumor necrosis factor in bone marrow macrophages. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was 28 f 1 mol%. The genome size of strain MQ-lT was 940 kb (627 MDa); a similar strain, MQ-8, had a genome size of 985 kb (657 MDa). Strain MQ-lT and its allies have the smallest genomes known in the genus Spiroplasma. Strain MQ-1 (= ATCC 33825) is designated the type strain of a new species, Spirophsma monobiae.The genus Spiroplasma (36), originally thought to consist of plant pathogens (22), was later shown, largely through the efforts of T. B. Clark and his associates (7,15), to be associated with arthropods. As the immense diversity of this genus unfolded, numerous interesting properties emerged. For example, group I organisms (2) were the only spiroplasmas found to be associated with plant disease or with plant-sucking bugs. Yet, the subgroup 1-2 spiroplasma, Spiroplasma melliferum (8), which was closely related to the plant spiroplasmas, was primarily associated with bees. One subgroup of this cluster (subgroup I-6), which appears to occur in the insect-plant surface habitat (15), had a guanineplus-cytosine (G+C) content that was higher than the G+C contents of its cohort subgroups (5). Another spiroplasma (subgroup I-4), isolated only once, appeared to be associated with ticks. Group I1 spiroplasmas (34) produced sex ratio abnormalities in Drosophila flies. Group 111 spiroplasmas (9) (Spiroplasma jloricola) proved to be associated with magnoliaceous flowers and their beetle and fly visitors and to have idiosyncratic metabolic pathways (6) that were readily studied because of the rapid growth of the species. Group IV appeared to be a widely distributed cluster of spiroplasmas, some of whose members, including type strain B31 (Spiroplasma apis), were pathogenic (19, 20) for honeybees @pis mellifera). Groups V (Spiroplasma mirum [30]) and VI (29) were associated with ticks. Thus, each of the first six established spiroplasma groups appeared to possess unusual biological and/or ecological properties.For some time, the group VII spiroplasmas, strain MQ-lT (T = type strain) and its allies, appeared to be exceptions to the emerging uniqueness of newly discovered strains. H...

show abstract

Spiroplasma

Williamson¹,

Gasparich²,

Regassa³

et al. 2015

Bergey's Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spi.ro.plas'ma. Gr. n. speira (L. transliteration spira ) a coil, spiral; Gr. neut. n. plasma something formed or molded, a form; N.L. neut. n. Spiroplasma spiral form. Tenericutes / Mollicutes / Entomoplasmatales / Spiroplasmataceae / Spiroplasma Cells are pleomorphic, varying in size and shape from helical and branched nonhelical filaments to spherical or ovoid. The helical forms, usually 100–200 nm in diameter and 3–5 µm in length, generally occur during the exponential phase of growth and in some species persist during stationary phase. The cells of some species are short (1–2 µm). In certain cases, helical cells may be very tightly coiled, or the coils may show continuous variation in amplitude. Spherical cells ~300 nm in diameter and nonhelical filaments are frequently seen in the stationary phase, where they may not be viable, and in all growth phases in suboptimal growth media, where they may or may not be viable. In some species during certain phases, spherical forms may be the replicating form. Helical filaments are motile, with flexional and twitching movements, and often show an apparent rotatory motility. Fibrils are associated with the membrane, but flagellae, periplasmic fibrils, or other organelles of locomotion are absent . Fimbriae and pili observed on the cell surface of insect‐ and plant‐pathogenic spiroplasmas are believed to be involved in host‐cell attachment and conjugation (Ammar et al., 2004; Özbek et al., 2003), but not in locomotion. Cells divide by binary fission, with doubling times of 0.7–37 h. Facultatively anaerobic. The temperature growth range varies among species, from 5 to 41°C. Colonies on solid media are frequently diffuse , with irregular shapes and borders, a condition that reflects the motility of the cells during active growth (Figure 111). Colony type is strongly dependent on the agar concentration. Colony sizes vary from 0.1 to 4.0 mm in diameter. Colonies formed by nonmotile variants or mutants, or by cultures growing on inadequate media are typically umbonate with diameters of 200 µm or less. Some species, such as Spiroplasma platyhelix , have barely visible helicity along most of their length and display little rotatory or flexing motility. Colonies of motile, fast‐growing spiroplasmas are diffuse, often with satellite colonies developing from foci adjacent to the initial site of colony development. Light turbidity may be produced in liquid cultures. Chemo‐organotrophic. Acid is produced from glucose. Hydrolysis of arginine is variable. Urea, arbutin, and esculin are not hydrolyzed. Sterol requirements are variable. An optimum osmolality, usually in the range of 300–800 mOsm, has been demonstrated for some spiroplasmas. Media containing mycoplasma broth base, serum, and other supplements are required for primary growth, but after adaptation, growth often occurs in less complex media. Defined or semi‐defined media are available for some species. Resistant to 10,000 U/ml penicillin. Insensitive to rifampicin, sensitive to erythromycin and tetracycline. Isolated from the surfaces of flowers and other plant parts, from the guts and hemolymph of various insects and crustaceans, and from tick triturates. Also isolated from vascular plant fluids ( phloem sap ) and insects that feed on the fluids . Specific host associations are common. The type species, Spiroplasma citri , is pathogenic for citrus (e.g., orange and grapefruit), producing “stubborn” disease. Experimental or natural infections also occur in horseradish, periwinkle, radish, broad bean, carrot, and other plant species. Spiroplasma kunkelii is a maize pathogen. Some species are pathogenic for insects. Certain species are pathogenic, under experimental conditions, for a variety of suckling rodents (rats, mice, hamsters and rabbits) and/or chicken embryos. Genome sizes vary from 780 to 2220 kbp (PFGE). DNA G + C content ( mol %): 24–31 ( T m , Bd). Type species : Spiroplasma citri Saglio, L'Hospital, Laflèche, Dupont, Bové, Tully and Freundt 1973, 202 AL .

show abstract

Helical Mycoplasmas (Spiroplasmas) from Ixodes Ticks

Cited by 63 publications

References 25 publications

Spiroplasma ixodetis sp. nov., a New Species from Ixodes pacificus Ticks Collected in Oregon

Spiroplasma ixodetis sp. nov., a New Species from Ixodes pacificus Ticks Collected in Oregon

Spiroplasma monobiae sp. nov. from the Vespid Wasp Monobia quadridens (Hymenoptera: Vespidae)

Spiroplasma

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About