Ureaplasma urealyticum

Last updated

Ureaplasma urealyticum
10931 lores (1).jpg
A number of medium-sized, Ureaplasma urealyticum colonies, otherwise known as T-strain mycoplasma, under magnification of 500×
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Mycoplasmatota
Class: Mollicutes
Order: Mycoplasmatales
Family: Mycoplasmataceae
Genus: Ureaplasma
Species:
U. urealyticum
Binomial name
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Shepard et al. 1974 (Approved Lists 1980)

Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterium belonging to the genus Ureaplasma and the family Mycoplasmataceae [1] in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma . Its type strain is T960. There are two known biovars of this species; T960 and 27. These strains of bacteria are commonly found as commensals in the urogenital tracts of human beings, but overgrowth can lead to infections that cause the patient discomfort. Unlike most bacteria, Ureaplasma urealyticum lacks a cell wall making it unique in physiology and medical treatment.

Contents

Classification

The six recognised Ureaplasma species have a GC content of 27 to 30 percent and a genome size ranging from 0.76 to 1.17 million base pairs, and cholesterol is required for growth. [2] A defining characteristic of the genus is that they perform urea hydrolysis, which creates ammonia as a product. Some strains originally classified as U. urealyticum should be treated as a new species, U. parvum . [3] Both strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum have had their DNA sequenced, using a PCR amplification and dideoxy termination method. [4] Their sequences can be accessed through public records and databases. Most of the16S rDNA sequence of the two strains constitute the exact same nucleotides bases (97.3% homology), yet small differences have been acknowledged. [4] Due to the direct similarity and the increased variation in other species of Ureaplasma, it is thought that the two strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum (T960 and 27) have evolutionary diverged together. In the same study conducted, using the same 16s rDNA aligned sequences, they concluded all the mammalian strains diverged and coevolved with their corresponding species (canine, feline, human, bovine) during the Cretaceous period. It was found that the most closely related species strain of Ureaplasma to Ureaplasma urealyticum was Ureaplasma diversum (isolated from bovine). [4]

Gram Staining

U. urealyticum represents one of the 14 distinct types within the Ureaplasma genus. Classified within the Mollicutes class, Ureaplasma species have undergone significant evolutionary adaptations from their Gram-positive bacterial ancestors, a phenomenon termed degenerative evolutions (Kallapur, Suhas G, et al 2013 [2] ). This evolutionary trajectory has resulted in the loss of the peptidoglycan cell wall, a hallmark characteristic of Gram-positive bacteria. Despite this evolutionary divergence, instances have been reported where U. urealyticum, upon gram staining, exhibited the same characteristics as Gram-negative bacteria. Notably, despite such staining outcomes, it is imperative to recognize that the U. urealyticum remains a Gram-Positive bacterium, This discrepancy underscores the importance of discerning between staining outcomes and bacterial classification (“Ureaplasma Urealyticum.” Microbewiki [5] ).

Treatment

As stated previously, since these bacteria are still considered Gram-positive, and lack a cell wall, the most versatile antibiotic that can’t be used is penicillin. Since these antibiotics attack the cell wall of a bacterium, they can not be used for this type of infection. The reason that many individuals get this infection can be damage to the uterus wall lining, causing the bacteria to thrive in a carbon-rich environment.

Unfortunately, it was found from trials that many of the antibiotics that we utilize on a day-to-day basis for urinary tract infections do not affect the bacteria due to lacking a cell wall. Yet, the types of antibiotics that can be used are quinolones, tetracyclines, and macrolides, since they affect a large part of the mycoplasma family of bacteria where U. urealyticum falls under.

Yet, it is not recommended to be used a lot because these bacteria can develop resistance to these antibiotics fairly fast. Secondly, other drugs that have β-lactamases are infective to treat infection because of how fast the bacteria's circular genome can mutate (Fan et al. 2023 [6] ). However, there are new movements to use Azithromycin to treat these infections. This is a therapeutic that can be taken orally, once ingested our macrophages, which are part of our immune system, take up the antibiotic and deliver it to the sites of infection (Fan et al. 2023 [7] ). This helps control the infection where the bacteria grows, additionally, it is also a great alternative to when a mother is pregnant so it does not cause harm to the fetus since It's using our immune system to help defend the fetus and the mother's body.

Testing On Agar

To test for this bacterium, an agar plate, which is 10B broth, should be used on U. urealyticum. Since these bacteria love to grow in mostly acidic places, the bacteria should go under microdilution MIC dilution to get a pH color change. If the dilution color changes to red it indicates that there is presence of U. urealyticum in the sample. After this, it should be transferred to the 10B Broth, where once placed it will turn yellow, but then slowly change the color to pink. This helps to indicate the growth of the bacterium(Waites, Ken B, et al 2012 [8] ). The reason it can grow on this 10B Broth is because it has a lot of nutrients that let the bacteria grow from heart infusion to yeast extract, yet, it also has urea to help the bacteria to hydrolyze it and with hydrolyzing it causes the release of ammonia that causes the broth to change to a pink color (10B Broth - Thermo Fisher Scientific). The reason for this is that it loves to live in urea-rich environments. It's the same reason why in clinics, they take urine samples or vaginal swabs to be sent to the labs to run this test on 10B broth.

Clinical relevance

Ureaplasma urealyticum can cause urethritis and may cause bacterial vaginosis. [9] Infection can occur in extragenital sites. [3] A common symptom associated with these infections is the "fishy" smell that is created due to the production of ammonia by the hydrolysis of urea. Patients should confirm diagnosis with a doctor. The bacterium has high correlations with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).[ citation needed ] It has also been linked to infertility in both males and females. [9] In addition, this pathogen may latently infect the chorionic villi tissues of pregnant women, thereby impacting pregnancy outcome. [5] Issues that arise from Ureaplasma urealyticum infections during pregnancy include preterm birth and impacted embryonic development. Some patients have given birth to children subjected to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Intraventricular hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis. [10] Patients can evolve resistances to normal antibiotic treatments due to the distinctive physiology of these organisms. In the Western World, approximately 40% of Ureaplasma species are resistant to fluoroquinolones (i.e. ciprofloxacin). [6] Patients who are pregnant have further limitations on the treatment course of a Ureaplasma urealyticum infection, making it far harder to successfully cure.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gram-positive bacteria</span> Bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test

In bacteriology, gram-positive bacteria are bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test, which is traditionally used to quickly classify bacteria into two broad categories according to their type of cell wall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mycoplasma genitalium</span> Species of bacterium

Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted, small and pathogenic bacterium that lives on the mucous epithelial cells of the urinary and genital tracts in humans. Medical reports published in 2007 and 2015 state that Mgen is becoming increasingly common. Resistance to multiple antibiotics, including the macrolide azithromycin, which until recently was the most reliable treatment, is becoming prevalent. The bacteria was first isolated from the urogenital tract of humans in 1981, and was eventually identified as a new species of Mycoplasma in 1983. It can cause negative health effects in men and women. It also increases the risk factor for HIV spread with higher occurrences in those previously treated with the azithromycin antibiotics.

<i>Mycoplasma</i> Genus of bacteria

Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that, like the other members of the class Mollicutes, lack a cell wall around their cell membranes. Peptidoglycan (murein) is absent. This characteristic makes them naturally resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. They can be parasitic or saprotrophic. Several species are pathogenic in humans, including M. pneumoniae, which is an important cause of "walking" pneumonia and other respiratory disorders, and M. genitalium, which is believed to be involved in pelvic inflammatory diseases. Mycoplasma species are among the smallest organisms yet discovered, can survive without oxygen, and come in various shapes. For example, M. genitalium is flask-shaped, while M. pneumoniae is more elongated, many Mycoplasma species are coccoid. Hundreds of Mycoplasma species infect animals.

Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by gonorrheal infection.

<i>Gardnerella vaginalis</i> Species of bacterium

Gardnerella vaginalis is a species of Gram-variable-staining facultative anaerobic bacteria. The organisms are small non-spore-forming, nonmotile coccobacilli.

Mycoplasma hominis is a species of bacteria in the genus Mycoplasma. M. hominis has the ability to penetrate the interior of human cells. Along with ureaplasmas, mycoplasmas are the smallest free-living organisms known.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a very small gram-negative bacterium(despite its relationship to gram-positive bacterium), in the class Mollicutes. It is a human pathogen that causes the disease mycoplasma pneumonia, a form of atypical bacterial pneumonia related to cold agglutinin disease. M. pneumoniae is characterized by the absence of a peptidoglycan cell wall and resulting resistance to many antibacterial agents. The persistence of M. pneumoniae infections even after treatment is associated with its ability to mimic host cell surface composition.

The cell envelope comprises the inner cell membrane and the cell wall of a bacterium. In gram-negative bacteria an outer membrane is also included. This envelope is not present in the Mollicutes where the cell wall is absent.

<i>Proteus</i> (bacterium) Genus of bacteria

Proteus is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria. It is a rod shaped, aerobic and motile bacteria, which is able to migrate across surfaces due its “swarming” characteristic in temperatures between 20 and 37 °C. Their size generally ranges from 0.4 to 0.8 μm in diameter and 1.0–3.0 μm in length. They tend to have an ammonia smell. Proteus bacilli are widely distributed in nature as saprophytes, being found in decomposing animal matter, sewage, manure soil, the mammalian intestine, and human and animal feces. They are opportunistic pathogens, commonly responsible for urinary and septic infections, often nosocomial.

<i>Proteus mirabilis</i> Species of bacterium

Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. It shows swarming motility and urease activity. P. mirabilis causes 90% of all Proteus infections in humans. It is widely distributed in soil and water. Proteus mirabilis can migrate across the surface of solid media or devices using a type of cooperative group motility called swarming. Proteus mirabilis is most frequently associated with infections of the urinary tract, especially in complicated or catheter-associated urinary tract infections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mycoplasmataceae</span> Family of bacteria

Mycoplasmataceae is a family of bacteria in the order Mycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma.

Levilactobacillus brevis is a gram-positive, rod shaped species of lactic acid bacteria which is heterofermentative, creating CO2, lactic acid and acetic acid or ethanol during fermentation. L. brevis is the type species of the genus Levilactobacillus (previously L. brevis group), which comprises 24 species. It can be found in many different environments, such as fermented foods, and as normal microbiota. L. brevis is found in food such as sauerkraut and pickles. It is also one of the most common causes of beer spoilage. Ingestion has been shown to improve human immune function, and it has been patented several times. Normal gut microbiota L. brevis is found in human intestines, vagina, and feces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L-form bacteria</span> Bacterial growth form that lack cell walls, derived from different bacteria

L-form bacteria, also known as L-phase bacteria, L-phase variants or cell wall-deficient bacteria (CWDB), are growth forms derived from different bacteria. They lack cell walls. Two types of L-forms are distinguished: unstable L-forms, spheroplasts that are capable of dividing, but can revert to the original morphology, and stable L-forms, L-forms that are unable to revert to the original bacteria.

Ureaplasma parvum is a species of Ureaplasma, a genus of bacteria belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. In Indonesia, ureaplasma parvum is most commonly contracted through contact with public toilets.

Atypical bacteria are bacteria that do not get colored by gram-staining but rather remain colorless: they are neither Gram-positive nor Gram-negative. These include the Chlamydiaceae, Legionella and the Mycoplasmataceae ; the Spirochetes and Rickettsiaceae are also often considered atypical.

Ureaplasma gallorale is a species of Ureaplasma, a genus of bacteria belonging to the family Mycoplasmataceae. It has been isolated from chickens and barnyard fowl. It possesses the sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: U62937. It is a commensal species with its host organism but has the ability to colonize and create infection. In the presence of virulence factors (H2O2, antigen proteins, etc.) is when these species start to over colonize. They have relatively small genomes, utilizing their host organisms natural processes to further their growth and survival. Nutrient required by the Ureaplasma species to continue metabolism are taken directly from the host. They proliferate in environments with a pH of 6.0-6.5 and a temperature of 35-37 °C. These characteristics are common to most biological environments which is why Ureaplasma species regularly cause infection. These infections can be found in the genital and respiratory tracks of avian species (chickens and turkey). Ureaplasma gallorale infections cannot always be managed by the host due to the mechanisms the bacteria have adapted. A host will release immune signals of IgA molecules to the bacterial cells to signify infection but the Ureaplasmas can secrete an enzyme known as IgAse that destroys IgA, rendering the signal inactive and leaving the host susceptible to health concerns. These infections, known as the condition Ureaplasmosis, have further ramifications for the barnyard fowl such as low egg production, weight loss, reduced feed conversion efficiency and even death. These health issues are a serious concern in maintaining adequate production for the agricultural industry.

Mycoplasma amphoriforme is a species of bacteria in the genus Mycoplasma. This genus of bacteria lacks a cell wall around their cell membrane. Without a cell wall, they are unaffected by many common antibiotics such as penicillin or other beta-lactam antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Mycoplasma are the smallest bacterial cells yet discovered, can survive without oxygen and are typically about 0.1 µm in diameter.

Mycoplasma orale is a small bacterium found in the class Mollicutes. It belongs to the genus Mycoplasma, a well-known group of bacterial parasites that inhabit humans. It also is known to be an opportunistic pathogen in immunocompromised humans. As with other Mycoplasma species, M. orale is not readily treated with many antibiotics due to its lack of a peptidoglycan cell wall. Therefore, this species is relevant to the medical field as physicians face the task of treating patients infected with this microbe. It is characterized by a small physical size, a small genome size, and a limited metabolism. It is also known to frequently contaminate laboratory experiments. This bacteria is very similar physiologically and morphologically to its sister species within the genus Mycoplasma; however, its recent discovery leaves many questions still unanswered about this microbe.

The exact role of Mycoplasma hominis in regards to a number of conditions related to pregnant women and their (unborn) offspring is controversial. This is mainly because many healthy adults have genitourinary colonization with Mycoplasma, published studies on pathogenicity have important design limitations and the organisms are very difficult to detect. The likelihood of colonization with M. hominis appears directly linked to the number of lifetime sexual partners Neonatal colonization does occur, but only through normal vaginal delivery. Caesarean section appears protective against colonization and is much less common. Neonatal colonization is transient.

References

  1. E.A. Freundt The classification of the pleuropneumonia group of organisms (Borrelomycetales) International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy, 1955, 5, 67–78.] (See page 73)
  2. 1 2 "Ureaplasma urealyticum- Classification". Meducation.net.
  3. 1 2 "Ureaplasma Infection: Background, Pathophysiology, Epidemiology". 17 November 2017.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. 1 2 3 HARASAWA, RYÒ; CASSELL, GAIL H. (1996). "Phylogenetic Analysis of Genes Coding for 16S rRNA in Mammalian Ureaplasmas". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 46 (3): 827–829. doi: 10.1099/00207713-46-3-827 . ISSN   1466-5026. PMID   8782697.
  5. 1 2 Contini C, Rotondo JC, Magagnoli F, Maritati M, Seraceni S, Graziano A, Poggi A, Capucci R, Vesce F, Tognon M, Martini F (2018). "Investigation on silent bacterial infections in specimens from pregnant women affected by spontaneous miscarriage". J Cell Physiol. 234 (1): 100–9107. doi: 10.1002/jcp.26952 . hdl: 11392/2393176 . PMID   30078192.
  6. 1 2 Pavoni, Matteo; Principe, Luigi; Foschi, Claudio; Meroni, Elisa; Briozzo, Elena; Lazzarotto, Tiziana; Ambretti, Simone; Di Bella, Stefano (7 December 2023). "Antimicrobial Resistance of Genital Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma : A Multicentre Study Over a 5-Year Period in Italy (2017–2021)". Microbial Drug Resistance. 30: 55–60. doi:10.1089/mdr.2023.0202. ISSN   1076-6294. PMID   38060805.
  7. Fan, Weibin; Wang, Qisheng; Liang, Zuyu; Wang, Jinyu; Zhang, Lin (16 March 2023). "Efficacy of azithromycin in treating Ureaplasma urealyticum: a systematic review and meta-analysis". BMC Infectious Diseases. 23 (1): 163. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08102-5 . ISSN   1471-2334. PMC   10021952 . PMID   36927441.
  8. Waites, Ken B.; Duffy, Lynn B.; Bébéar, Cécile M.; Matlow, Anne; Talkington, Deborah F.; Kenny, George E.; Totten, Patricia A.; Bade, Donald J.; Zheng, Xiaotian; Davidson, Maureen K.; Shortridge, Virginia D.; Watts, Jeffrey L.; Brown, Steven D. (November 2012). "Standardized Methods and Quality Control Limits for Agar and Broth Microdilution Susceptibility Testing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 50 (11): 3542–3547. doi:10.1128/JCM.01439-12. ISSN   0095-1137. PMC   3486213 . PMID   22915608.
  9. 1 2 "Ureaplasma: Causes, symptoms, and treatment". Medical News Today. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  10. Hillitt, K. L.; Jenkins, R. E.; Spiller, O. B.; Beeton, M. L. (2017). "Antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey against antibiotic-resistant strains of the cell wall-free bacteria Ureaplasma parvum and Ureaplasma urealyticum" (PDF). Letters in Applied Microbiology. 64 (3): 198–202. doi:10.1111/lam.12707. hdl: 10369/8313 . ISSN   1472-765X. PMID   27992658. S2CID   8466307.