Name: mycoplasmas and wall-less bacteria
Uploaded: 2025-06-12T09:23:08.000Z
Duration: 1 min 24 s
Channel: JoVE

The phylum Tenericutes &#8212; commonly known as mycoplasmas &#8212; includes a single class, Mollicutes. These bacteria lack cell walls and are among the smallest known organisms.Mycoplasmas often live in close association with animal or plant hosts in diverse environments.Despite the lack of cell walls, mycoplasma membranes are resistant to osmotic lysis partly due to the presence of sterols and lipoglycans.Mycoplasmas exhibit pleomorphic forms, with cultures often showing small coccoid cells, large swollen cells, and filamentous forms that may be branched.Genus Spiroplasma is helical or spiral-shaped. It lacks cell walls and flagella yet exhibits motility through screw-like motion or slow undulations.Spiroplasma species are found in various places, from the external surfaces of insects and plants to their internal tissues.One notable species, Spiroplasma citri, causes citrus stubborn disease in citrus plants.Other species, such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Metamycoplasma hominis, are pathogenic to humans.

bacterial phylum tenericutes

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 Firmicutes.Mycoplasmas often live in close association with animal or plant hosts, where the absence of a gram-positive cell wall may be an advantage. They have small genomes, ranging from 0.6 to 2.2 megabase pairs (Mbp), a feature typical of obligate symbionts.<h4>Structural Properties</h4>The absence of cell walls in mycoplasmas has been confirmed through electron microscopy and chemical analyses, which reveal a lack of peptidoglycan. While they resemble protoplasts (bacteria stripped of their cell walls), mycoplasmas are more resistant to osmotic lysis. This resilience is partly due to the presence of sterols, which stabilize their cytoplasmic membrane. Some mycoplasmas require sterols in their growth media, a feature useful in their classification.In addition to sterols, many mycoplasmas possess lipoglycans&#8212;long-chain heteropolysaccharides covalently bound to membrane lipids. These compounds, embedded in the cytoplasmic membrane, resemble the lipopolysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria but lack the lipid A backbone. Lipoglycans contribute to membrane stability and facilitate attachment to animal cell surface receptors.Mycoplasmas exhibit pleomorphic forms, with cultures often showing small coccoid cells (0.2&#8211;0.3 &#956;m), swollen cells, and filamentous, branched forms. In agar cultures, colonies exhibit a characteristic "fried egg" appearance with a dense central core embedded in the medium and a lighter surrounding area. Unlike bacteria with cell walls, mycoplasmas are unaffected by antibiotics targeting cell wall synthesis but are susceptible to antibiotics targeting other cellular processes.Mycoplasmas are cultivated on complex media, often requiring fresh serum or ascitic fluid to provide sterols and unsaturated fatty acids. While some species grow poorly even on rich media, others can thrive on defined media. Most mycoplasmas use carbohydrates for energy and require vitamins, amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines. Their energy metabolism varies, with species exhibiting aerobic, facultative aerobic, or anaerobic growth.Spiroplasma, a genus of helical or spiral-shaped Mollicutes, lacks both cell walls and flagella yet exhibits motility through rotary (screw-like) motion or slow undulations. This motility is believed to involve intracellular fibrils. Spiroplasma species are found in diverse environments, including ticks, the hemolymph and gut of insects, plant vascular fluids, and on plant surfaces such as flowers and leaves.One notable species, Spiroplasma citri, causes citrus stubborn disease and has also been linked to corn stunt disease. Other plant-associated Mollicutes have been identified through electron microscopy, suggesting the existence of a large, diverse group. Additionally, some Spiroplasma species cause insect diseases, such as honeybee spiroplasmosis and lethargy disease in beetles like Melolontha.

The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin ...

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mycoplasmas and wall-less bacteria

Mycoplasmas are wall-less bacteria in the phylum Tenericutes. This group includes the single class Mollicutes, a name that comes from the Latin mollis, meaning soft. These bacteria are among the smallest known. They are often called mycoplasmas because the genus Mycoplasma includes many well-known human pathogens.

Mycoplasmas cannot stain gram-positive because they lack cell walls. Even so, they are related to the Firmicutes. They often live closely with animal or plant hosts. Their small genomes, about 0.6 to 2.2 megabase pairs, fit the pattern seen in many obligate symbionts.

Electron microscopy and chemical tests show that mycoplasmas do not have peptidoglycan, the main material in bacterial cell walls. They can look like protoplasts, which are bacteria stripped of their walls. However, mycoplasmas are more resistant to osmotic lysis. Sterols in the cytoplasmic membrane help stabilize them, and some species need sterols in their growth media.

Many mycoplasmas also contain lipoglycans, which are long-chain heteropolysaccharides linked to membrane lipids. These molecules sit in the cytoplasmic membrane and resemble the lipopolysaccharides of gram-negative bacteria, but they do not have a lipid A backbone. Lipoglycans help stabilize the membrane and aid attachment to animal cell surface receptors. Mycoplasmas also show pleomorphic forms, so cultures may contain small coccoid cells, swollen cells, and filamentous or branched forms.

On agar, mycoplasma colonies often have a “fried egg” look. A dense center grows down into the medium, while a lighter area surrounds it. Antibiotics that block cell wall synthesis do not affect these bacteria. They are instead sensitive to antibiotics that target other cell processes. To grow them in the lab, scientists often use complex media with fresh serum or ascitic fluid. These ingredients supply sterols and unsaturated fatty acids.

Some mycoplasma species grow poorly even on rich media, while others can grow on defined media. Most use carbohydrates for energy and need vitamins, amino acids, purines, and pyrimidines. Their energy use varies, and species may be aerobic, facultative aerobic, or anaerobic.

Spiroplasma is a helical, or spiral-shaped, genus within the Mollicutes. It also lacks a cell wall and flagella, yet it moves by rotary, screw-like motion or slow undulations. This movement is thought to involve intracellular fibrils. Spiroplasma species are found in ticks, the hemolymph and gut of insects, plant vascular fluids, and on plant surfaces such as flowers and leaves.

One species, Spiroplasma citri, causes citrus stubborn disease and has also been linked to corn stunt disease. Electron microscopy has also revealed other plant-associated Mollicutes, suggesting a large and diverse group. Some Spiroplasma species also cause insect diseases, including honeybee spiroplasmosis and lethargy disease in beetles such as Melolontha.

Mycoplasmas and Wall-Less Bacteria

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Mycoplasmas are wall-less bacteria in the phylum Tenericutes. This group includes the single class Mollicutes, a name that comes from the Latin mollis, meaning soft. These bacteria are among the smallest known. They are often called mycoplasmas because the genus Mycoplasma includes many well-known human pathogens. Mycoplasmas cannot stain gram-positive because they lack cell walls. Even so, they are related to the Firmicutes. They often live closely with animal or plant hosts. Their small...

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key terms and concepts

Learn how mycoplasmas lack cell walls, survive with sterols, form “fried egg” colonies, and include Spiroplasma species that infect plants and insects.

Mycoplasmas and Wall-Less Bacteria | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

Mycoplasmas and Wall-Less Bacteria

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