The near-minimal bacterium Mesoplasma florum constitutes an attractive model for systems biology and for the development of a simplified cell chassis in synthetic biology. However, the lack of genetic engineering tools for this microorganism has limited our capacity to understand its basic biology and modify its genome. To address this issue, we have evaluated the susceptibility of M. florum to...

News reports on May 20, 2010, heralded a new era in scientific research, as well as a new way of thinking about the nature of life. Craig Venter and his team had created a cell controlled by an entirely synthetic genome. So, were the sensational headlines warranted? And just how much of an advance is the latest report from the Venter Institute? Craig Venter (Chairman and President of the J. Cra...

Mycoplasma mycoidessubsp.mycoidesis the etiologic agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. We report here the complete genome sequence of the strain T1/44, which is widely used as a live vaccine in Africa.

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC can be combined into one taxon on the basis of several contributions on both DNA sequence and protein analyses reported in the literature. Moreover, for the differentiation and identification of mycoplasmas of the "mycoides cluster", we investigated the rpoB gene, encoding the beta-subunit of the RNA polymerase. A segme...

The diagnosis of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) has often been considered difficult. This is because of the confusion that can arise with other mycoplasmoses of small ruminants. Symptoms and lesions can be similar and the isolation of M. capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (MccF38) requires skilled technicians. Once MccF38 strains are isolated, their identification should not be diffic...

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides is generally considered one of most pathogenic Mycoplasma species, and it is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Here, we present the annotated genome sequence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides Italian strain 57/13, isolated in 1992 during CBPP outbreaks in Italy.

Rapid and specific detection of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small Colony (M. mycoides SC) is important for the effective control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. Although the United States has been free of this disease for over 100 years, it is necessary to develop modern diagnostic assays that are sensitive and specific for biological agents that would affect the US agricultural i...

The clinical course of infection following endobronchial inoculation of three strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony (MmmSC), the causative agent of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), was compared in 15 mixed-breed Bos taurus steers. Two of these strains have not previously been investigated under experimental conditions. The cattle were inoculated endobronchiall...

Members of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster' represent important livestock pathogens worldwide. Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides is the etiologic agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which is still endemic in many parts of Africa. We report the genome sequences and annotation of two frequently used challenge strains of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides, Afadé and B237. The inf...