Bacteria Genomes - MESOPLASMA FLORUM

Mesoplasma florum strain L1 is a non-parasitic mycoplasma that has been isolated from the surface of the lemon tree flower.

Mycoplasmas are members of the class Mollicutes, a large group of bacteria that lack a cell wall and have a characteristically low G+C content. These diverse organisms are parasites in a wide range of hosts, including humans, animals, insects, plants, and cells grown in tissue culture. Aside from their role as potential pathogens, Mycoplasmas are of interest because of their remarkable evolution.

Mycoplasmas evolved from Gram-positive eubacteria by multiple reductions in genome size, resulting in the loss of many biosynthetic abilities and the need to acquire many nutrients from their hosts. With genome sizes smaller than 1 Mb, they have been described as the smallest self-replicating organisms, and are considered to be the best representatives for the concept of a minimal cell.

M. florum is a nonpathogenic organism, yet shares many of the simple features found in the pathogenic species. Research on this organism can be performed without the additional regulatory and safety issues.

M. florum is a nonmotile Mycoplasma species. Thus, its genome sequence, combined with the sequences of M. mobile and other motile Mycoplasmas can aid in the identification of genes that are essential for motility. M. florum is not closely related to M. genitalium and M. pneumoniae , the two species used as basis for the definition of a minimal genome. Therefore, its genome sequence, combined with other Mycoplasma genome sequences, would be extremely valuable for the identification of a consensus minimal genome.

Mesoplasma is thought to be associated with plant insect vectors, although its primary vector is as yet unidentified.

References:

http://www.broad.mit.edu/annotation/microbes/mesoplasma_florum/background.html#what