Advances in Mycoplasma Research

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Medical Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 4715

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249, USA
Interests: Mycoplasma; Ureaplasma; pathogenesis; drug resistance; molecular biology and genetics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mycoplasmas, the smallest self-replicating bacteria, have captivated researchers for decades due to their unique biology, minimalistic genomes, and diverse interactions with hosts. This Special Issue is dedicated to showcasing the latest advances in mycoplasma research, providing a platform for researchers to share insights into the molecular mechanisms, pathogenicity, host interactions, and potential applications of these intriguing microorganisms.

Mycoplasmas, which are characterized by their lack of a cell wall and streamlined genomes, exhibit a remarkable ability to colonize a variety of hosts, including humans, animals, and plants. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and contributions that span the following areas:

  • Physiological mechanisms: insights into the unique molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern the biology of mycoplasmas, including genome evolution, metabolism, and cell structure.
  • Host interactions: exploration of the interactions between mycoplasmas and their diverse hosts, unraveling the strategies employed for colonization and evasion of host immune responses.
  • Pathogenicity and diseases: understanding the role of mycoplasmas in human, animal, and plant diseases, with a focus on emerging pathogens and the molecular basis of pathogenicity.
  • Antimicrobial strategies: advances in the development of antimicrobial strategies, including antibiotics and novel therapeutic approaches, to combat mycoplasma infections.
  • Biotechnological applications: discovering the potential applications of mycoplasmas in biotechnology, such as synthetic biology, vaccine development, and industrial processes.

We hope to compile a collection of articles that reflect the cutting-edge research being conducted in the field of mycoplasma biology. Researchers and experts are invited to contribute their findings, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of mycoplasma research and paving the way for future breakthroughs in microbiology.

Dr. Li Xiao
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • mycoplasmas
  • physiological mechanisms
  • pathogenicity
  • host interactions
  • antimicrobial strategies
  • biotechnological applications

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

18 pages, 4133 KiB  
Article
Differential Immunological Responses of Adult Domestic and Bighorn Sheep to Inoculation with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae Type Strain Y98
by Sally A. Madsen-Bouterse, David R. Herndon, Paige C. Grossman, Alejandra A. Rivolta, Lindsay M. Fry, Brenda M. Murdoch and Lindsay M. W. Piel
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2658; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122658 - 21 Dec 2024
Viewed by 610
Abstract
Bighorn sheep (BHS) populations have been reported to experience high levels of morbidity and mortality following infection with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. This contrasts with the subclinical presentation in domestic sheep (DS). Understanding this difference requires baseline knowledge of pre- and post-infection immune responses [...] Read more.
Bighorn sheep (BHS) populations have been reported to experience high levels of morbidity and mortality following infection with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. This contrasts with the subclinical presentation in domestic sheep (DS). Understanding this difference requires baseline knowledge of pre- and post-infection immune responses of both species. The present study identifies differences in leukocyte phenotypes between adult BHS and DS before and after intranasal inoculation with 1 × 108 Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. Prior to inoculation, BHS were confirmed to have a higher abundance of leukocyte CD14 and serum concentrations of IL-36RA. In contrast, DS had a higher leukocyte abundance of CD16 in addition to previously observed integrin markers and CD172a, as well as greater serum TNF-α concentrations. Within 15 days of inoculation, BHS displayed signs of mild respiratory disease and M. ovipneumoniae DNA was detected on nasal swabs using a quantitative PCR; meanwhile, DS exhibited few to no clinical signs and had levels of M. ovipneumoniae DNA below the standard curve threshold. Immunologic markers remained relatively consistent pre- and post-inoculation in DS, while BHS demonstrated changes in the peripheral leukocyte expression of CD172a and CD14. Circulating serum IL-36RA decreased and CXCL10 increased within BHS. These findings highlight significant differences in cellular immunity between BHS and DS, raised and housed under similar conditions, prior to and following inoculation with M. ovipneumoniae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mycoplasma Research)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1658 KiB  
Article
The Development and Evaluation of a New Inactivated Vaccine against Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum
by Noha Semmate, Zahra Bamouh, Zouhair Elkarhat, Soufiane Elmejdoub, Mazen Saleh, Ouafaa Fassi Fihri and Mehdi Elharrak
Microorganisms 2024, 12(6), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12061118 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1027
Abstract
Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) are pathogens that affect large and small ruminants. Indeed, Mcc affects both sheep and goats, causing contagious agalactia (CA). Mccp affects only goats, causing contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). CA and CCPP are [...] Read more.
Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) are pathogens that affect large and small ruminants. Indeed, Mcc affects both sheep and goats, causing contagious agalactia (CA). Mccp affects only goats, causing contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). CA and CCPP are mainly controlled using inactivated Mcc and Mccp vaccines. However, producing the vaccine with the Mccp strain is complex, fastidious, and costly due to the slow growth of the bacterium. In this study, we present new oil-adjuvanted and inactivated Mcc and Mccp vaccines for sheep and goats against CA and CCPP. The vaccines were evaluated for safety and efficacy using experimental infection. A serological response was observed one week after of the first vaccination of sheep and goats with Mcc and goats with Mccp. The vaccinated animals were subsequently challenged with the virulent Mcc MOR20 strain. The Mcc vaccine was demonstrated to provide robust protection when the animals were challenged with Mcc MOR20. Cross-protection against the Mcc MOR20 challenge was also obtained with the Mccp vaccine. This finding revealed, for the first time, the safety and efficacy of an inactivated Mcc vaccine against contagious agalactia and cross-protection between Mcc and Mccp strains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mycoplasma Research)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

9 pages, 232 KiB  
Commentary
Research Progress in the Development of Vaccines against Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae
by Shaopeng Wu, Miaoli Wang, Xiaoxue Yang, Lu Zhao, Zouran Lan and Shuhong Sun
Microorganisms 2024, 12(8), 1699; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12081699 - 17 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1501
Abstract
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are the primary agents responsible for mycoplasma disease in poultry. MG has been identified as a significant cause of chronic respiratory disease in chickens, while MS has been linked to the development of tenosynovitis, joint swelling [...] Read more.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are the primary agents responsible for mycoplasma disease in poultry. MG has been identified as a significant cause of chronic respiratory disease in chickens, while MS has been linked to the development of tenosynovitis, joint swelling and other symptoms in chickens, leading to considerable economic losses for the poultry industry. Unfortunately, there is no specific drug for treatment and vaccination is the most important way to control the disease. There are some different types of vaccines, including live vaccines, inactivated vaccines, sub-unit vaccines and vector vaccines. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the development of vaccines for MG and MS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Mycoplasma Research)
Back to TopTop