Virulence and molecular adaptation of human urogenital mycoplasmas: a review

The pathogenesis of mycoplasmas requires their attachment to the epithelial mucosa membrane of the host cells, followed by colonisation and necrotic destruction of the submucosal tissue. The extent of this pathogenesis depends on the ability of species of Mycoplasma to effectively attach and invade the host’s tissue. In this regard, the cytadherence tip organelle has evolved within the mycoplasmas to accomplish this feat. However, species of...