Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria characterized by the complete lack of a peptidoglycan cell wall, making them the smallest known free-living organisms (StatPearls, 2023). This unique structural feature renders them naturally resistant to many common antibiotics, such as penicillins and cephalosporins, which target cell wall synthesis (CDC, 2022). In clinical medicine, Mycoplasma species are significant pathogens; Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a primary cause of community-acquired atypical pneumonia, while Mycoplasma genitalium is increasingly recognized as a cause of sexually transmitted infections like urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PubMed, 2018). Because they lack a cell wall, therapeutic interventions must focus on intracellular targets such as the bacterial ribosome or DNA replication machinery. Consequently, macrolides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones are the mainstays of treatment (StatPearls, 2023). However, the rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance, particularly macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium, presents a significant challenge for modern medicine (PubMed, 2023).

Other names

MollicutesPPLOPleuropneumonia-like organisms

Inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S or 30S ribosomal subunits; inhibition of DNA replication by targeting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.