Mycoplasma genitalium

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Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma genitalium (pronounced: my-co-plaz-ma gen-i-tal-ee-um) is a bacterium that can be transmitted through sexual contact. It is one of the smallest known microorganisms capable of independent reproduction.

Etymology

The term "Mycoplasma" is derived from the Greek words "mykes" (meaning fungus) and "plasma" (meaning formed or molded). This is due to the fact that mycoplasmas were originally thought to be related to fungi due to their lack of a cell wall. "Genitalium" refers to the genital tract, where this bacterium is commonly found.

Description

Mycoplasma genitalium is a small, flask-shaped bacterium. It lacks a cell wall, which is a characteristic feature of the genus Mycoplasma. This makes it naturally resistant to many common antibiotics such as penicillin that target cell wall synthesis. It is known to cause inflammation in the urogenital tract, leading to diseases such as urethritis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Related Terms

  • Urethritis: Inflammation of the urethra, often caused by bacterial infection.
  • Cervicitis: Inflammation of the cervix, which can be caused by a number of different pathogens, including Mycoplasma genitalium.
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: An infection of the female reproductive organs, often caused by sexually transmitted bacteria, including Mycoplasma genitalium.
  • Mycoplasma: A genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall. Mycoplasma genitalium is a species within this genus.

See Also

External links

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