The pathogen Ureaplasma urealyticum belongs to the family Mycoplasmataceae and the genus Ureaplasma.
What is Ureaplasma urealyticum?
Ureaplasma urealyticum is a germ of the class Mollicutes. It is characterized, like other germs of this class, by a missing cell wall and a pleomorphic shape. The lack of a cell wall makes the pathogen gram-negative. Other characteristics such as a natural resistance to penicillin and the possibility of shape change (pleomorphic form) are made possible by the missing cell wall. Ureaplasmas, unlike mycoplasmas, are able to cleave urea (lysis) and degrade it. Like other germs of the family Mycoplasmataceae, they parasitize both intracellularly and extracellularly. Settlement in the urogenital system, and especially in the urethra, lends itself to their characteristic ability to degrade urea. The characteristics of the pathogen can be well deduced from the origin of its name: The class designation “Mollicutes” translates as “soft-skinned”(Molli = plump, soft) and refers to the lack of cell walls. The family name “Mycoplasmataceae” translates roughly to “mushroom-like” (Mycos = fungus) and alludes to the pleomorphic shape of the germs, which is at times elongated and looks like a mushroom. The species name Ureaplasma urealyticum refers to the pathogen’s ability to break down urea, or urea. Germs of the Mollicutes class were first isolated in 1898 in cattle with lung disease (pleuropneumonia). The assumption that this was a primordial germ, which was also reinforced by the very small genome (580kbp), could only be refuted by accurate DNA sequencing. Germs of the Mollicutes class are products of degenerative evolution. Mollicutes are degenerate forms of a Lactobacillus species. The species Ureaplasma urealyticum represents an evolution of the original Mollicutes and is the most important representative of the genus Ureaplasma in human medicine. A detailed examination of the genome revealed that Mollicutes have shed a considerable part of their original DNA. With 580-2,300 kbp, they are among the organisms with the smallest existing genome. For comparison, the genome of the bacterium E. Coli has a size of 4,500 kbp and the genome of Homo Sapiens has a size of 3,400,000 kbp. Due to the small size of 200 nanometers, germs of the Mollicutes class are considered laboratory contaminants. Serial production of sterile filters only allows a pore density of 220 nanometers, which does not ensure effective filtering of germs of the Mollicutes class.
Occurrence, distribution, and properties
Germs of the family Mycoplasmataceae have shed significant portions of the original DNA and therefore rely on essential metabolic components from other cells. Because of the shed portions of the genome, mycoplasmas are unable to make or break down amino acids, nucleic acids, and fatty acids themselves and must draw them from other cells. The ability of ureaplasmas to degrade urea lends itself to parasitic colonization of the genitourinary system.
Diseases and symptoms
The bacterial species Ureaplasma urealyticum is considered facultative pathogenic and can colonize the mucous membranes of the lower female genital tract without complications. In the male genitourinary system, aggressive and rampant infection is more common. Beginning in the urethra, inflammation of the bladder occurs and may spread to the testicles, prostate and kidneys. The inflammation causes severe pain and fever and can lead to sterility if left untreated. The germ settles unnoticed in the vaginal mucosa and can be found regularly during gynecological examinations. During pregnancy and especially during birth, the child may become infected. In the infant, the germ can cause severe pneumonia and lead to chronic infections of the central nervous system. In particularly severe cases, the germ triggers neonatal sepsis, which without treatment can lead to the death of the infant. Approximately 5% of all deaths of children under 5 years of age worldwide are caused by neonatal sepsis. Neonatal sepsis is favored by immunodeficiency and malnutrition of the infant, making it a disease that is particularly prevalent in poorer countries. Neonatal sepsis is not exclusively caused by ureaplasma, but can also be caused by streptococci, staphylococci and many other germs.Due to the wide range of potential pathogens, spontaneous antibiotic treatment is not recommended. Since Ureaplasma has a natural resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics that attach to the cell wall due to the lack of cell walls, and since many other pathogens are now also equipped with a large number of antibiotic resistances, a precise clarification with the aid of laboratory medical findings seems indispensable. The exact nature of the pathogen, including a determination of resistance, is also important in order to avoid a persistent manifestation of the pathogen. Since persistent forms of pathogens from the Chlamydiaceae and Mycoplasmataceae families have already been observed as a result of penicillin administration, utmost caution is required. A hasty and instinctive decision to use conventional antibiotic treatment favors serious sequelae and may lead to the development of further resistance. Spontaneous antibiotic therapy without clarification of the exact causes can thus be judged as gross negligence. To combat an inflammation caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum, antibiotics from the macrolide and tetracycline groups are recommended. These antibiotic groups act within the cell and inhibit the protein biosynthesis of the pathogen. Auto-replication can thus be inhibited and a competent immune response is favored.
