One theory suggests that illnesses in Gulf War veterans may result from infection with Mycoplasma—bacteria-like microorganisms that are the smallest freeliving microorganisms. This chapter considers the Mycoplasma theory. It first discusses briefly the Mycoplasma species, including how they affect healthy persons and those with compromised immune systems. It then discusses hypotheses regarding ...

BACKGROUND Mycoplasma hyorhinis infection has been postulated to play a role in the development of several types of cancer, but the direct evidence and mechanism remained to be determined. METHODS Immunohistochemistry assay and nested polymerase-chain reaction (PCR) were performed to examine the mycoplasma hyorhinis infection in gastric cancer tissues. Statistical analysis was used to check t...

Biochemical and molecular analysis were conducted on 34 strains of Mycoplasma species isolated between 2003 and 2009 from the genital tract of clinically healthy Dorper sheep and sheep with ulcerative vulvitis and balanitis. Earlier publications identified the causative agent as Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides large colony (MmmLC) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes. The aims of the study were to charact...

We used Bacillus subtilis to express UGA-containing Mycoplasma genes encoding the P30 adhesin (one UGA) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and methionine sulfoxide reductase (two UGAs) of Mycoplasma genitalium. Due to natural UGA suppression, these Mycoplasma genes were expressed as full-length protein products, but at relatively low efficiency, in recombinant wild-type Bacillus. The B. subtilis-expresse...

The nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes from the type strains of three seal mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma phocicerebrale, Mycoplasma phocae and Mycoplasma phocirhinis (formerly Mycoplasma phocacerebrale, Mycoplasma phocidae and Mycoplasma phocarhinis, respectively), were determined by direct DNA cycle sequencing. Polymorphisms were found in all three 16S rRNA gene sequences, showing the existe...

The influence of transmembrane ion fluxes on mycoplasma membrane potentials was studied. Fluorescence intensity of potential-sensitive carbocyanine dyes was calibrated vs. electric membrane potential. Potassium and sodium ion diffusion potentials significantly contributed to mycoplasma membrane potential. Chloride ions were obviously freely permeable across mycoplasma membranes. Under growth co...

Objectives To study the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among children presenting with central nervous system (CNS) manifestations. Design Prospective study. Setting University Paediatric Unit, Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. Method Children above 1 year of age, presenting with features of CNS infection, from January to December 2001, were included. Serum samples were tested for Myc...

Mycoplasma contamination of cultured cell lines is a serious problem in research, altering cellular response to different stimuli thus compromising experimental results. We found that chronic mycoplasma contamination of THP-1 cells suppresses responses of THP-1 cells to TLR stimuli. For example, E. coli LPS induced IL-1 beta was suppressed by 6 fold and IL-8 by 10 fold in mycoplasma positive TH...

A serological study of twenty three European bison (Bison bonasus) derived from Northern-East Poland for the seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC, Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae was conducted. Only specific antibodies to M. bovis were detected in two animals (8.7%) which we...

Five arginine-utilizing, nonglycolytic Mycoplasma species were compared serologically by two dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The survey included: Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma arthritidis, Mycoplasma gateae, Mycoplasma gallinarum, and three strains of Mycoplasma arginini. Although the M. arginini strains showed strong cross-reactions, each strain produced a different antigenic profile which...