Acholeplasma †,‡
Tenericutes
Mollicutes
Acholeplasmatales
Acholeplasmataceae
Daniel R. Brown,
Janet M. Bradbury,
Karl-Erik Johansson,
Daniel R. Brown
University of Florida, Infectious Diseases and Pathology, Box 110880, Basic Sciences Building BSB3-31/BSB3-52, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610 USA
Search for more papers by this authorJanet M. Bradbury
University of Liverpool, Infectious Diseases Group, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Jordan Building, Leahurst Neston, CH64 7TE UK
Search for more papers by this authorKarl-Erik Johansson
National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Department of Bacteriology, Ulls Vaeg 2A-2C, Uppsala, SE-751 89 Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorDaniel R. Brown,
Janet M. Bradbury,
Karl-Erik Johansson,
Daniel R. Brown
University of Florida, Infectious Diseases and Pathology, Box 110880, Basic Sciences Building BSB3-31/BSB3-52, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610 USA
Search for more papers by this authorJanet M. Bradbury
University of Liverpool, Infectious Diseases Group, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Jordan Building, Leahurst Neston, CH64 7TE UK
Search for more papers by this authorKarl-Erik Johansson
National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Department of Bacteriology, Ulls Vaeg 2A-2C, Uppsala, SE-751 89 Sweden
Search for more papers by this author†
Edward and Freundt 1970, 1AL
‡
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., in association with Bergey's Manual Trust.
Abstract
A.cho.le.plas'ma. Gr. pref. a not; Gr. n. chole bile; Gr. neut. n. plasma something formed or molded, a form; N.L. neut. n. Acholeplasma name intended to indicate that cholesterol, a constituent of bile, is not required.
Tenericutes / Mollicutes / Acholeplasmatales / Acholeplasmataceae / Acholeplasma
Cells are spherical, with a diameter of about 300 nm, or filamentous, 2–5 µm long. Nonmotile. Colonies have a “fried-egg” appearance and may reach 2–3 mm in diameter. Facultatively anaerobic; most strains grow readily in simple media. All members lack a sterol requirement for growth. Chemo-organotrophic, most species utilizing glucose and other sugars as the major energy sources. Many strains are capable of fatty acid biosynthesis from acetate. Arginine and urea are not hydrolyzed. Pigmented carotenoids occur in some species. All species are resistant, or only slightly susceptible, to 1.5% digitonin. Saprophytes found in soil, compost, wastewaters, or commensals of vertebrates, insects, or plants. None are known to be a primary pathogen, but they may cause cytopathic effects in tissue cultures. The genome sizes range from about 1500 to 2100 kbp. All species examined utilize the universal genetic code in which UGA is a stop codon.
DNA G+C content (mol%): 27–38.
Type species: Acholeplasma laidlawii (Sabin 1941) Edward and Freundt 1970, 1AL (Sapromyces laidlawi Sabin 1941, 334).
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Further reading
- Taylor-Robinson, D. and J.G. Tully. 1998. Mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas, spiroplasmas, and related organisms. In Topley and Wilson, Principles and Practice of Microbiology, 9th edn, vol. 2 (edited by Balows and Duerden). Arnold Publishers, London, pp. 799–827.
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Tully, J.G.
1989. Class Mollicutes: new perspectives from plant and arthropod studies. In
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