Mycoplasmataceae is a family of

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one biological cell. They constitute a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria were among ...

in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera ''

Mycoplasma ''Mycoplasma'' is a genus of bacteria that, like the other members of the class ''Mollicutes'', lack a cell wall around their cell membranes. Peptidoglycan (murein) is absent. This characteristic makes them naturally resistant to antibiotics ...

'' and '' Ureaplasma''. In 1967, the order Mycoplasmatales was incorporated into the class Mollicutes. Many species are sexually transmitted and cause

pelvic inflammatory disease Pelvic inflammatory disease, also known as pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), is an infection of the upper part of the female reproductive system, namely the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, and inside of the pelvis. Often, there may be no ...

Taxonomy

''Mycoplasma''

''Mycoplasma ''refers to a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

that lack a

cell wall A cell wall is a structural layer surrounding some types of cells, just outside the cell membrane. It can be tough, flexible, and sometimes rigid. It provides the cell with both structural support and protection, and also acts as a filtering mech ...

and possess a three-layered cellular membrane. They can be parasitic or

saprotrophic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi (f ...

. Several species are sexually transmitted and

pathogen In biology, a pathogen ( el, πάθος, "suffering", "passion" and , "producer of") in the oldest and broadest sense, is any organism or agent that can produce disease. A pathogen may also be referred to as an infectious agent, or simply a germ ...

ic in humans. Others are found on cats, dogs, and barnyard fowl.

''Ureaplasma''

''Ureaplasma'' is the second of two genera of

belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. As the name implies, ureaplasma is

urease Ureases (), functionally, belong to the superfamily of amidohydrolases and phosphotriesterases. Ureases are found in numerous bacteria, fungi, algae, plants, and some invertebrates, as well as in soils, as a soil enzyme. They are nickel-containin ...

positive. This genera is distinct from other genera in Mollicutes in that it hydrolyses urea for generation of ATP.

''Ureaplasma'' ''spp.'' as human pathogens

Both ''

Ureaplasma urealyticum ''Ureaplasma urealyticum'' is a bacterium belonging to the genus ''Ureaplasma'' and the family Mycoplasmataceae in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera ''Mycoplasma'' and ''Ureaplasma''. Its type strain is T960. There are ...

'' and ''

Ureaplasma parvum ''Ureaplasma parvum'' is a species of ''Ureaplasma'', a genus of bacteria belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. In Indonesia, ureaplasma parvum is most commonly contracted through contact with public toilets. ''Ureaplasma parvum'' was former ...

'' have been identified as important human pathogens, causing infection in the urogenital tract and, rarely, at distal sites. Their role in neonatal disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes has been well established, and semantic classifications are changing to reflect the nature of the detrimental outcomes these infections are associated with. In the 2010s, '' Mycoplasma genitalium'' has been re-classified as an STI, and it is likely that with more research, ''Ureaplasma spp''. will follow this trend. Similar to other pathogens such as '' Chlamydia trachomatis'', infection with ''Ureaplasma spp.'' is associated with adverse fertility outcomes in both men and women. Both cause non-gonococcal urethritis. ''Ureaplasma spp.'' were implicated in conditions such as prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome as early as the 1980s. Research in women has lagged several decades behind, but it is now becoming more clear how ''Ureaplasma spp.'' contribute to etiologies such as interstitial cystitis/

painful bladder syndrome Interstitial cystitis (IC), a type of bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is chronic pain in the Urinary bladder, bladder and pelvic floor of unknown cause. It is the urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome of women. Symptoms include urinary urgency, feel ...

. ''Ureaplasma spp.'' are associated with alterations in host environment that increase susceptibility to other infections such as

bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urination ...

and

vaginal candidiasis Vaginal yeast infection, also known as candidal vulvovaginitis and vaginal thrush, is excessive growth of yeast in the vagina that results in irritation. The most common symptom is vaginal itching, which may be severe. Other symptoms include burni ...

. ''Ureaplasma spp.'' can cause

reactive arthritis Reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's syndrome, is a form of inflammatory arthritis that develops in response to an infection in another part of the body (cross-reactivity). Coming into contact with bacteria and developing an infection can ...

as well as directly infect the

synovium The synovial membrane (also known as the synovial stratum, synovium or stratum synoviale) is a specialized connective tissue that lines the inner surface of capsules of synovial joints and tendon sheath. It makes direct contact with the fibrous ...

. Some case studies have suggested a causative role in

complex regional pain syndrome Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is any of several painful conditions that are characterized by a continuing (spontaneous and/or evoked) regional pain that is seemingly disproportionate in time or degree to the usual course of any known trau ...

/ reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome.

Phylogeny

The currently accepted taxonomy is based on the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature (LPSN) and

National Center for Biotechnology Information The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is part of the United States National Library of Medicine (NLM), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is approved and funded by the government of the United States. The ...

(NCBI)

References

External links

Ureaplasma Infection: eMedicine Infectious Diseases
{{Taxonbar, from=Q136808 Mollicutes Bacteria families