Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis

General Information

Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its role as a pathogen in rodents, particularly in laboratory mice and rats. This bacterium is a member of the class Mollicutes, which is characterized by the absence of a cell wall, making it inherently resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis, such as beta-lactams. This lack of a cell wall is a defining feature and contributes to its pleomorphic nature, allowing it to adopt various shapes. One of the most intriguing aspects of M. pulmonis is its minimalist genome, which is among the smallest of any self-replicating organism. This streamlined genome makes it an excellent model for studying the essentials of cellular life and the minimal requirements for survival and pathogenicity. Researchers are particularly interested in how M. pulmonis manages to thrive and cause disease with such a limited set of genes. M. pulmonis is also notable for its ability to evade the host immune system. It achieves this through antigenic variation, a process by which it alters the proteins on its surface to avoid detection. This makes it a valuable subject for studying host-pathogen interactions and immune evasion mechanisms. In the context of respiratory infections, M. pulmonis is a significant cause of chronic respiratory disease in rodents, leading to symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, and labored breathing. This makes it a critical organism for veterinary research and for understanding respiratory diseases in mammals. Furthermore, M. pulmonis has been used in studies related to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, providing insights into how bacteria can persist in hostile environments and resist treatment. Its role in chronic infections and its ability to form biofilms make it a model organism for studying persistent infections and the development of new therapeutic strategies. In summary, Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is a unique and valuable microorganism in scientific research due to its minimalist genome, ability to evade the immune system, and relevance to respiratory diseases and antibiotic resistance studies. Its characteristics make it an important model for understanding fundamental biological processes and developing new medical interventions.

Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is a fascinating microorganism primarily known for its role as a pathogen in respiratory diseases, particularly in rodents. This organism is notable for its lack of a cell wall, which is a characteristic feature of the Mycoplasma genus. This unique trait not only makes it resistant to certain antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis but also allows it to exhibit a highly flexible morphology, adapting to various environments within the host. One of the most interesting aspects of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is its ability to cause chronic respiratory infections, which can lead to significant health issues in affected animals. This has made it a valuable model organism for studying respiratory diseases and the immune response in mammals. Researchers are particularly interested in understanding the mechanisms of pathogenesis and how this organism interacts with the host's immune system. Additionally, the study of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis contributes to the broader understanding of mycoplasmas, which are known to have implications in both veterinary and human medicine. The insights gained from this organism can help in developing better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies for mycoplasma-related diseases. Its unique biology and pathogenicity make Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis a significant subject of research in microbiology and infectious disease studies.

Taxonomy

Superkingdom: Bacteria

Phylum: Mycoplasmatota

Class: NA

Order: Mycoplasmoidales

Family: Metamycoplasmataceae

Genus: Mycoplasmopsis

Species: Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis

NCBI ID

2107

Genome Info

FTP Path:
ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/all/GCA/900/660/575/GCA_900660575.1_51342_D01-3

File for sequence-based predictions:
GCA_900660575.1_51342_D01-3_genomic.fasta

Descriptions

Clinical Implications and Relevance

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The organism Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is a significant pathogen primarily associated with respiratory diseases in rodents, particularly in laboratory settings. It is known to cause pneumonia and other respiratory infections, which can lead to severe health issues in affected animals. The presence of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis in laboratory animals can complicate research outcomes, as it may influence the immune response and overall health of the subjects, thereby affecting the validity of experimental results. In terms of pathogenicity, Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis exhibits several strategies to evade the immune system, including the ability to adhere to host cells and modulate host immune responses. This evasion can lead to chronic infections, making it difficult to eradicate the organism once established. Furthermore, there is growing concern regarding antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis, as it has shown resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics. This resistance complicates treatment options and raises questions about the management of infections in both laboratory and clinical settings. While Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is primarily a concern in animal health, its implications in research highlight the importance of monitoring and controlling this organism to prevent potential spillover effects in human health contexts. Currently, there are no widely recognized medical applications such as probiotics, vaccines, or therapeutics directly associated with Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis, but its role in animal models continues to be a critical area of study for understanding respiratory diseases.

Habitat and Ecological Niches

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis is primarily associated with the respiratory tract of mammals, particularly in the lungs of various hosts. This microorganism thrives in the aerobic environments of the respiratory system, where it can exploit the nutrient-rich conditions provided by host tissues and secretions. Its presence is often linked to respiratory diseases, indicating its role as a pathogen in these ecosystems. In terms of ecological interactions, Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis exhibits notable symbiotic relationships with its host, where it can influence the host's immune response. This interaction can lead to a delicate balance between pathogenicity and host defense mechanisms, showcasing the organism's ability to adapt to its environment. The organism's small size and lack of a cell wall allow it to evade certain immune responses, further enhancing its survival in the host's respiratory niche. Additionally, the presence of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis can disrupt the normal microbial flora of the respiratory tract, leading to dysbiosis. This disruption can have cascading effects on the overall health of the host, emphasizing the importance of this microorganism in the microbial community dynamics of the respiratory biome. Overall, Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis exemplifies the complex interactions that microorganisms can have within their specific biomes, particularly in relation to health and disease.

Industrial Application

Source: gpt-4o-mini-2024-07-18

The microorganism Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis has shown potential in various industrial applications, particularly in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development. This organism is known for its role in fermentation, where it can be utilized to produce specific metabolites that may have therapeutic properties. Its unique metabolic pathways allow for the synthesis of compounds that can be harnessed in drug formulation, making it a candidate for biopharmaceuticals. In the realm of waste management, Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis has been studied for its ability to degrade certain pollutants, contributing to biodegradation processes. This capability can be particularly useful in treating contaminated environments, such as wastewater treatment facilities, where the organism can help break down harmful substances, thus improving overall environmental health. Moreover, the enzymatic activity of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis can be leveraged in biofuel production. By utilizing its metabolic processes, researchers are exploring ways to convert biomass into biofuels through enzymatic hydrolysis, which can enhance the efficiency of biofuel production systems. Overall, the applications of Mycoplasmopsis pulmonis in these industries highlight its significance as a versatile microorganism with promising potential in sustainable practices and innovative solutions for modern challenges.

Phenotypes and Predictions

The table shows the phenotypes and predictions. Cell colors indicate the class of the value. When literature-based data is available, a checkmark (✓) indicates a correct prediction, while an ✗ indicates an incorrect prediction.

Literature-based phenotypes: 8

LLM predicted phenotypes: 5

Phenotype	High-quality annotation	anthropic/claude-3.5-sonnet	meta-llama/llama-3-8b-instruct:nitro	google/palm-2-chat-bison-32k	google/gemini-flash-1.5	meta-llama/llama-3-70b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-4o	anthropic/claude-3-haiku:beta	perplexity/llama-3-sonar-small-32k-chat	microsoft/phi-3-mini-128k-instruct	mistralai/mixtral-8x7b-instruct:nitro	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	openai/gpt-3.5-turbo-0125	google/gemini-pro-1.5	google/gemini-pro-1.5	openai/gpt-4	openai/gpt-4	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	microsoft/wizardlm-2-8x22b	google/gemini-pro	google/gemini-pro	google/gemma-7b-it	google/gemma-7b-it	openchat/openchat-7b	openchat/openchat-7b	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct	mistralai/mistral-7b-instruct
Motility	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false	false	false	true	true	false	false	false	false
Gram staining	gram stain negative	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain variable ✗	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain negative ✓	N/A	gram stain variable ✗
Aerophilicity	facultatively anaerobic	N/A	aerotolerant ✗	anaerobic ✗	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	facultatively anaerobic ✓	aerobic ✗	aerobic ✗	aerobic ✗	aerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	anaerobic ✗	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Extreme environment tolerance	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗	false ✓	false ✓	true ✗	true ✗
Biofilm formation	N/A	true	true	false	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	false	false	true	true	false	false	true	true
Animal pathogenicity	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Biosafety level	biosafety level 2	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 1 ✗	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓	biosafety level 2 ✓
Health association	N/A	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true	true
Host association	TRUE	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	false ✗	false ✗	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓	true ✓
Plant pathogenicity	FALSE	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓	false ✓
Spore formation	N/A	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false	false
Hemolysis	N/A	beta	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Cell shape	coccus	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	bacillus ✗	bacillus ✗	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓	coccus ✓

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