The main difference between mycoplasma and PPLO is that mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lacks a cell wall around their cell membrane, whereas PPLO refers to pleuropneumonia-like organisms in the pleural fluid of organisms.
Mycoplasma and PPLO are two types of bacteria that lack cell walls. Both belong to the Kingdom of Monera.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Mycoplasma
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
2. What is PPLO
– Definition, Characteristics, Importance
3. Similarities Between Mycoplasma and PPLO
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Mycoplasma and PPLO
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Mycoplasma, PPLO
What is Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria-like Mollicutes that lack a cell wall around the cell membranes. More importantly, it does not have a peptidoglycan cell wall. Due to the lack of a cell wall, Mycoplasma becomes characteristically resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Mycoplasma is either saprophytic or parasitic. Some species such as M. pneumoniae are pathogenic in humans and cause ‘walking’ pneumonia. Moreover, Mycoplasma species are among the smallest microorganisms discovered so far.
Figure1: M. Haemofelis
Furthermore, Mycoplasma species can survive without oxygen. Therefore, they are facultatively anaerobic. In general, they come in different shapes. Some Mycoplasma species are flask-shaped, some are elongated, and some are coccoid. More importantly, hundreds of species of Mycoplasma infect animals. It can also infect different parts of the body including the skin, lungs, or urinary tract. For example, M. pneumoniae causes infections in the lungs. In addition, some symptoms of walking pneumonia include sore throat, cough, fever, fatigue, and headache.
What is PPLO
PPLO or pleuropneumonia-like organism is the smallest form of the organism that is capable of replicating in a cell-free medium. Generally, the size of PPLO is 150 to 250 micrometers. They are important in their role in respiratory diseases and other illnesses in mammals and birds. PPLO differs from bacteria in several aspects. First, they lack a rigid cell wall that occurs in bacteria. Instead, PPLO contains a triple-layered plasma membrane in the periphery. Generally, it covers the cell and organelles of PPLO. In addition, PPLO requires cholesterol for growth.
Figure 2: M. gallisepticum
Moreover, PPLO occurs in the pleural fluid of animals. The organism was recovered from cattle. It also causes contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in livestock and causes serious economic livestock problems.
Similarities Between Mycoplasma and PPLO
- Mycoplasma and PPLO are two types of bacterial organisms that lack cell walls.
- Moreover, they are naturally resistant to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis.
- They can be pathogenic to humans.
Difference Between Mycoplasma and PPLO
Definition
Mycoplasma refers to any of a group of small typically parasitic bacteria that lack cell walls and sometimes cause diseases while PPLO refers to a mycoplasma resistant to antibiotics that causes a kind of pneumonia in humans.
Significance
Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lacks a cell wall around their cell membrane while PPLO refers to a pleuropneumonia-like organism that occurs in the pleural fluid of animals.
Pathogenicity
Furthermore, Mycoplasma is not pathogenic while PPLO is pathogenic.
Occurrence
Mycoplasma occurs in the skin, lungs, or urinary tract while PPLO occurs in the pleural fluid of animals.
Conclusion
In brief, Mycoplasma and PPLO are two types of bacteria that do not contain cell walls. Therefore, the main feature of both bacteria is the resistance to antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Usually, Mycoplasma is typically a parasitic bacterium that lacks cell walls. They are not pathogenic. In contrast, PPLO is a pleuropneumonia-like organism that occurs in the pleural fluid of animals and is pathogenic. Therefore, the main difference between mycoplasma and PPLO is their pathogenicity.
References:
- Harwock HJ, Kalmanson GM, Guze LB. Human diseases associated with mycoplasms. With an appendix on simple culture techniques. Calif Med. 1972 May;116(5):1-7. PMID: 4565394; PMCID: PMC1518391.
- “Role of Mycoplasma (PPLO) in Human Respiratory Disease.” American Review of Respiratory Disease, https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/arrd.1963.88.3P2.218?journalCode=arrd.
Image Courtesy:
- “Ijms-20-04657-g haemofelis IP2011” By Nr387241 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Mycoplasma gallisepticum” By M.H.B. Catroxo and A.M.C.R.P.F. Martins – Own Work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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