Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection
13:45

Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Infection and Detection

Published on: February 7, 2019

Intracellular location and survival of Mycoplasma penetrans within HeLa cells

M Tarshis1, A Yavlovich, A Katzenell

  • 1Department of Membrane and Ultrastructure Researh, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.

Current Microbiology
|August 7, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma penetrans invades HeLa cells and survives inside acidic endosomes. This survival is linked to the bacteria

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Microbiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Mycoplasma penetrans is an intracellular pathogen.
  • HeLa cells are commonly used for studying host-pathogen interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intracellular localization of Mycoplasma penetrans within HeLa cells.
  • To understand the survival mechanisms of M. penetrans inside host cells.

Main Methods:

  • Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to visualize M. penetrans within HeLa cells.
  • LysoTracker (green) was employed to label acidic intracellular compartments (endosomes).
  • Immunofluorescence staining with anti-M. penetrans antibodies and Cy5 goat anti-rabbit IgG (red) was performed for colocalization studies.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma penetrans was predominantly found within LysoTracker-labeled acidic compartments, identified as endosomes.
  • Viable M. penetrans were observed within these endosomes for extended periods.
  • The prolonged intracellular survival of M. penetrans appears to be facilitated by its potent antioxidant activity.

Conclusions:

  • Mycoplasma penetrans resides and survives within endosomes of HeLa cells.
  • The endosomal environment and the bacteria's antioxidant capacity are crucial for M. penetrans intracellular persistence.

More Related Videos

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae06:04

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Published on: February 24, 2023

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses08:38

Using a Bacterial Pathogen to Probe for Cellular and Organismic-level Host Responses

Published on: February 22, 2019

Related Concept Videos

Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes01:24

Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
Atypical Pneumonia01:14

Atypical Pneumonia

Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
Trichomoniasis01:18

Trichomoniasis

Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.