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Cytopathogenicity of Mycoplasma fermentans (including strain incognitus)
C T Stadtländer1, H L Watson, J W Simecka
1Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama, School of Medicine, Birmingham 35294.
Abstract:
Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus, an organism recently identified in tissues of patients with AIDS and in tissues of otherwise healthy adults with an acute fatal respiratory disease, was evaluated for cytopathogenicity for tracheal tissue in vivo and in vitro. In this study, the organism produced a chronic infection of the lower respiratory tract in LEW rats following intranasal inoculation and induced both ciliostasis and cytopathology in experimentally infected tracheal explants from rats. The time of onset of ciliostasis, type of cytopathogenicity, and localization of organism in strain incognitus were different from those in other strains of M. fermentans as well as other species of mycoplasmas isolated from humans. The results strongly support, but do not prove, that M. fermentans strain incognitus is an unusually invasive mycoplasma, as it was the only strain found within respiratory epithelial cells both in vivo and in vitro. Detection of the organism within the lamina propria also supported the organism's invasive potential. Further study of both the in vivo and in vitro models should provide insights into this potentially unique mycoplasma-host relationship.
Insights
Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus causes chronic respiratory infections in rats and damages tracheal tissue. This invasive mycoplasma was found within respiratory cells, suggesting unique pathogenic potential.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pathology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus has been identified in patients with AIDS and fatal respiratory disease.
- The cytopathogenicity and invasive potential of this strain require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cytopathogenicity of Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus in tracheal tissue, both in vivo and in vitro.
- To compare the pathogenic characteristics of strain incognitus with other Mycoplasma strains.
Main Methods:
- Intranasal inoculation of LEW rats with Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus.
- Experimental infection of rat tracheal explants in vitro.
- Microscopic examination for cytopathology, ciliostasis, and organism localization.
Main Results:
- Strain incognitus established chronic lower respiratory tract infections in rats.
- In vitro and in vivo studies showed ciliostasis and cytopathology in tracheal tissues.
- Strain incognitus exhibited distinct pathogenic features and intracellular localization within respiratory epithelial cells and lamina propria, unlike other Mycoplasma strains.
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma fermentans strain incognitus demonstrates significant invasive potential within respiratory tissues.
- The unique characteristics of strain incognitus suggest a potentially novel mycoplasma-host interaction.
- Further research using in vivo and in vitro models is warranted to understand this unique relationship.