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Published on: October 9, 2015
CYTOPATHOGENIC MYCOPLASMAS ASSOCIATED WITH TWO HUMAN TUMORS. I. ISOLATION AND BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS
Abstract:
Armstrong, D. (The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa.), G. Henle, N. L. Somerson, and L. Hayflick. Cytopathogenic mycoplasmas associated with two human tumors. I. Isolation and biological aspects. J. Bacteriol. 90:418-424. 1965.-Mycoplasmas were isolated from cell cultures of two benign human tumors. The first isolate contained two mycoplasmas, one a well-known human species (Mycoplasma hominis type I) and frequent tissue culture contaminant, and the other a recently reported new type. The second isolate was a mycoplasma of the newly described type. The mycoplasmas could be reisolated, after one or more passages through tissue culture, from extracts of the original tumor tissue. The relationship of the organisms to the neoplasms remains obscure. Both isolates produce cytopathic effect (CPE) and acidification of medium in a variety of tissue cultures. The CPE may be diminished, but not abolished, by increasing concentrations of arginine in the tissue culture media. Infection of various tissue cultures with the mycoplasmas did not result in interference to super-infection with vesicular stomatitis virus.
Insights
Researchers isolated cytopathogenic mycoplasmas from human tumors, observing their ability to cause cytopathic effects in cell cultures. The exact relationship between these mycoplasmas and neoplasms remains unclear.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mycoplasmas are known to be associated with various human conditions.
- The presence of microorganisms in tumor tissues has been a subject of investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize mycoplasmas from human tumor cell cultures.
- To investigate the biological aspects and effects of these mycoplasmas in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of mycoplasmas from cell cultures of two benign human tumors.
- Characterization of the isolated mycoplasma species.
- Assessment of cytopathic effects (CPE) in various tissue cultures.
- Testing the effect of arginine concentration on CPE.
- Evaluating interference with vesicular stomatitis virus super-infection.
Main Results:
- Two distinct mycoplasmas were isolated from the first tumor, including Mycoplasma hominis type I and a new type.
- A newly described mycoplasma type was isolated from the second tumor.
- Mycoplasmas were re-isolated from tumor tissue extracts after passage.
- Both isolates induced CPE and medium acidification in tissue cultures.
- Increasing arginine concentrations partially reduced CPE.
- No interference with vesicular stomatitis virus super-infection was observed.
Conclusions:
- Cytopathogenic mycoplasmas can be isolated from human benign tumors.
- These mycoplasmas induce observable effects in tissue cultures.
- The etiological role of these mycoplasmas in human neoplasms requires further investigation.
