Mycoplasma in biological systems: induction of interferon

Mycoplasmal infection leads to a variety of effects on host cells both in vivo and in vitro. Among these is the induction of interferon, which has been demonstrated in mycoplasma-infected human and sheep lymphoreticular cell cultures and in mice. Different species and strains of mycoplasma vary in their ability to induce interferon in these experimental models. Several studies have shown that mycoplasmas do not elicit the production of interferon in murine cells in vitro or in non-lymphoreticular cells of other animal species. This may be related to the ability of host cells to take up mycoplasmas or to mycoplasma-associated products, such as mycoplasmal viruses. Initial studies of mixed infections with mycoplasmas and animal viruses in vivo have demonstrated both an inhibition and an enhancement of viral disease, indicating the complex nature of mycoplasma-animal virus interactions.