Mycoplasma pneumoniae
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae
It is a very small bacterium in the class Mollicutes. It causes the disease Mycoplasma pneumonia, a form of bacterial pneumonia, and is related to Cold agglutinin disease.
| Kingdom | Bacteria |
|---|---|
| Division | Firmicutes |
| Class | Mollicutes |
| Order | Mycoplasmatales |
| Family | Mycoplasmataceae |
| Genus | Mycoplasma |
| Species | M. pneumoniae |
| Binomial | Mycoplasma pneumoniae |
[edit] Surface Characteristics
It has a cell membrane that incorporates sterol compounds, similar to eukaryotic cells. It obtains these sterols from the host serum, allowing it to retain a simple structure. Lacking a cell wall, these organisms are resistant to the effects of penicillins and other beta-lactam antibiotics, which act by disrupting the bacterial cell wall. Antibiotics with activity against these organisms include erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones and their derivatives (e.g., levofloxacin), and tetracyclines (e.g., doxycycline).
[edit] Pathogenic Activity
It causes the disease Mycoplasma pneumonia, a form of bacterial pneumonia, and is related to Cold agglutinin disease.
