Mycoplasma genitalium is a small pathogenic bacterium that
lives on the ciliated epithelial cells of the urinary and genital tracts in
humans. Its existence was first reported in 1981,and was eventually identified
as a new species of Mycoplasma in 1983.It can cause significant morbidity in
men and women, and is a co-factor in HIV transmission.] It is still
controversial whether or not this bacterium is to be recognized as a sexually
transmitted pathogen. Specifically, it causes urethritis in both men and women,
and also cervicitis and pelvic inflammation in women.
The synthetic genome of M. genitaliumnamed Mycoplasma
genitalium JCVI-1.0 (after the research centre, J. Craig Venter Institute,
where it was synthesised) was produced in 2008, becoming the first organism
with a synthetic genome. In 2014, a protein was described called Protein M from
M. genitalium.Infection by M. genitalium seems fairly common—it is possibly
transmitted between partners during sexual intercourse—and can be treated with
antibiotics.
Symptoms
Infection with M. genitalium sometimes produces clinical
symptom, or a combination of symptoms, but sometimes can be asymptomatic. It
causes inflammation in the urethra (urethritis) both in men and women, which is
associated with mucopurulent discharge in the urinary tract, and burning while
urinating. In women, it causes cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory diseases,
including endometritis and salpingitis. Women may also experience bleeding
after sex and it is also suspected with tubal factor infertility. For men, the
most common signs are painful urination or a watery discharge from the penis.Polymerase
chain reaction analyses indicated that it is a cause of acute non-gonococcal
urethritis (NGU) and probably chronic NGU. Unlike other Mycoplasma, the
infection is not associated with bacterial vaginosis.It is highly associated
with the intensity of HIV infection. It is also suspected to play a role in the
development of prostate and ovarian cancers and lymphomas.
Source: Wikipedia
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