Recent progress in mycoplasma research.

Abstract

Today, 12 years after the identification of Eaton agent as a mycoplasma, much new information on this infection has accumulated. Better methods have become available, which will be helpful in determining whether other mycoplasmas might be human pathogens, e.g., some ureaplasmas in nongonococcal urethritis. Experimental mycoplasma infections in birds and animals have revealed common features with immune complex diseases in man. They may serve, therefore, as useful models for human mycoplasma disease. However, the most important finding in recent mycoplasma research has been the isolation of mycoplasma viruses. Viruses belonging to three different groups have been discovered. It will be interesting to study whether the virus determines the pathogenicity of mycoplasmas or not.