Mycoplasmas and cell cultures.

Abstract

Such terms are now in disfavor and the correct generic name, Mycoplasma, should be used. Recently the mycoplasmas have been classified into two separate families, the sterol-requiring Mycoplasmataceae and the sterol-nonrequiring Acholeplasmataceae (44). To the present time, over 30 named species of mycoplasmas have been included within the two families. In addition there are several unidentifiable isolates (L. Hayflick, personal communication). The above classification refers to classic (large-colony) mycoplasmas. It does not include T-strain mycoplasmas (so called, because they form tiny colonies approximately one-fourth the size of classic mycoplasma colonies) on agar. T-strain mycoplasmas were first isolated by Shepard from human urino-genital tracts (170). They have now been isolated from various animals. The T-strain group, as a whole, is unclassified at the present time. A unique requirement for urea (171), in addition to sterol requirement, for growth of these mycoplasmas has prompted the suggestion that they should be included as a separate genus in the order Mycoplasmatales (156a). MORPHOLOGY OF MYCOPLASMAS The mycoplasma organism is distinctive for its small size of 130 to 300 nm and for the lack of a cell wall, the limiting boundary being a plasma 206

Interaction of Mycoplasma arthritidis and Other Mycoplasmas with Murine Peritoneal Macrophages

“…The significance of the interactions between mycoplasmas and mammalian cells has only recently begun to be realized. Current knowledge on this subject was recently reviewed by Stanbridge (23). A number of investigations have shown that certain mycoplasma species are capable of adsorbing to the surfaces of animal cells (14,17,18,19,24,27).…”

Characterization of the surface proteins of SV40‐transformed mouse and human cells: Absence of SV40‐specific proteins

“…Surprisingly, the antisera immunoprecipitated apparently identical surface proteins from the SV4O-transformed human cell line, SV80. Although the surface proteins detected by our antisera may be well-conserved cellular proteins, the possibility exists that at least some of these proteins could be of retroviral (Tung et al, 1976;Klitzman et al, 1980) or mycoplasma origin (Stanbridge, 1971 ; Vennegoor et d., 1982).…”

Putrescine dependent growth of mycoplasma infected mammalian cells

“…It is conceivable that diamines other than putrescine may also inhibit mycoplasma proliferation. Considering the diverse impact of mycoplasma infection i n vitro (Stanbridge, 1971;McGarrity et al, 1978) 'Note added in proof Alhonen-Hongisto, L., Veijalainen, P., EK- and in vivo (Sharp, 19701, this possibility warrants further investigation. Ham (1965) originally found that exogenous putrescine stimulated the growth of some mammalian cells in tissue culture.…”