International Journal of Molecular Sciences

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Dr. Tatiana Semashko

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Guest Editor

Research Institute for Systems Biology and Medicine, 117246 Moscow, Russia
Interests: system biology; minimal cell; mycoplasma; genomics; transcriptomics; epigenetics; non-standard NGS methods; synthetic biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will focus on the latest advances in mycoplasma research, including both its investigations as a model object and its pathogenesis.

Mycoplasmas are the simplest self-replicating cells. They are characterized by a reduced genome size, lack of a cell wall, and its simplified organization. Due to their characteristics, they are a very convenient model object. Using the mycoplasma model, researchers try to understand the entire machinery of a minimal self-replicating organisms and their specific parts. Currently, a synthetic minimal bacterial cell has been created on the mycoplasma model. Nevertheless, much is still unknown in the field of mycoplasma functioning.

Mycoplasmas are widespread in nature as parasites of almost all living organisms. Some representatives of the class are adhesive, while others are intracellular parasites. Despite their simple organization, they can successfully evade the immune response and persist in host organism for a long time.

We invite researchers to contribute to this Special Issue, “New Advances on Mycoplasma Research”. Research articles and reviews in the broad field of mycoplasma study are welcome.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to:

System biology of mycoplasma;
Synthetic biology of mycoplasma;
Mycoplasma as a model object;
Mycoplasma as a minimal cell;
Physiology of mycoplasma;
Host–pathogen interactions.

Dr. Tatiana Semashko
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

mollicutes
mycoplasma
minimal cell
system biology
synthetic biology
omics
pathogenesis
host–pathogen interactions

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

8 pages, 262 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Detection of Putative Virulence Genes alr, goiB, and goiC in Mycoplasma hominis Isolates from Austrian Patients

by Iwona Lesiak-Markowicz, Julia Walochnik, Angelika Stary and Ursula Fürnkranz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 7993; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097993 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 970

Abstract

In Mycoplasma hominis, two genes (alr and goiB) have been found to be associated with the invasion of the amniotic cavity, and a single gene (goiC) to be associated with intra-amniotic infections and a high risk of preterm birth. The syntopic presence of Ureaplasma spp. in the same patient has been shown to correlate with the absence of goiC in M. hominis. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of alr, goiB, and goiC genes in two groups of M. hominis isolates collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic male and non-pregnant female patients attending an Outpatients Centre. Group A consisted of 26 isolates from patients with only M. hominis confirmed; group B consisted of 24 isolates from patients with Ureaplasma spp. as the only co-infection. We extracted DNA from all M. hominis isolates and analysed the samples for the presence of alr, goiB, and goiC in a qPCR assay. Additionally, we determined their cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. We confirmed the presence of the alr gene in 85% of group A isolates and in 100% of group B isolates; goiB was detected in 46% of the samples in both groups, whereas goiC was found in 73% of group A and 79% of group B isolates, respectively. It was shown that co-colonisation with Ureaplasma spp. in the same patient had no effect on the presence of goiC in the respective M. hominis isolate. We did not observe any cytotoxic effect of the investigated isolates on human cells, regardless of the presence or absence of the investigated genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Mycoplasma Research)

21 pages, 22989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Nanostructured Silica SBA-15 as an Oral Vaccine Adjuvant to Control Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in Swine Production

by Gabriel Y. Storino, Fernando A. M. Petri, Marina L. Mechler-Dreibi, Gabriel A. Aguiar, Leonardo T. Toledo, Laíza P. Arruda, Clarisse S. Malcher, Tereza S. Martins, Hélio J. Montassier, Osvaldo A. Sant’Anna, Márcia C. A. Fantini and Luís Guilherme de Oliveira

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6591; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076591 - 1 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1609

Abstract

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is a difficult-to-control bacterium since commercial vaccines do not prevent colonization and excretion. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of an orally administered vaccine composed of antigens extracted from Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and incorporated into mesoporous silica (SBA-15), which has an adjuvant-carrier function, aiming to potentiate the action of the commercial intramuscular vaccine. A total of 60 piglets were divided into four groups (n = 15) submitted to different vaccination protocols as follows, Group 1: oral SBA15 + commercial vaccine at 24 days after weaning, G2: oral vaccine on the third day of life + vaccine commercial vaccine at 24 days, G3: commercial vaccine at 24 days, and G4: commercial vaccine + oral vaccine at 24 days. On the first day, the piglets were weighed and, from the third day onwards, submitted to blood collections for the detection and quantification of anti-Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae IgG. Nasal swabs were collected to monitor IgA by ELISA, and oropharyngeal swabs were used to assess the bacterial load by qPCR. Biological samples were collected periodically from the third day of life until the 73rd day. At 41 days of life, 15 individuals of the same age, experimentally challenged with an inoculum containing M. hyopneumoniae, were co-housed with the animals from groups (1 to 4) in a single pen to increase the infection pressure during the nursery period. At 73 days, all piglets were euthanized, and lungs were evaluated by collecting samples for estimation of bacterial load by qPCR. Quantitative data obtained from physical parameters and laboratory investigation were analyzed by performing parametric or non-parametric statistical tests. Results indicate that animals from G2 showed smaller affected lung areas compared to G3. Animals from G2 and G4 had a low prevalence of animals shedding M. hyopneumoniae at 61 days of age. Additionally, no correlation was observed between lung lesions and M. hyopneumoniae load in lung and BALF samples in animals that received the oral vaccine, while a strong correlation was observed in other groups. In the present study, evidence points to the effectiveness of the oral vaccine developed for controlling M. hyopneumoniae in pig production under field conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Mycoplasma Research)

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