Acholeplasma

Acholeplasma
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Division:	Firmicutes
Class:	Mollicutes
Order:	Acholeplasmatales
Family:	Acholeplasmataceae
Genus:	Acholeplasma Edward & Freundt 1970
Species
Acholeplasma axanthum Acholeplasma brassicae Acholeplasma cavigenitalium Acholeplasma entomophilum Acholeplasma equifetale Acholeplasma florum Acholeplasma granularum Acholeplasma hippikon Acholeplasma laidlawii Acholeplasma modicum Acholeplasma morum Acholeplasma multilocale Acholeplasma oculi Acholeplasma palmae Acholeplasma parvum Acholeplasma pleciae Acholeplasma seiffertii Acholeplasma vituli

Acholeplasma are wall-less bacteria in the Mollicutes class. They include saprotrophic or pathogenic species. There are 15 recognised species. The G+C content is low, ranging from 26 - 36% (mol%). The genomes of Acholeplasma species range in size from 1.5 to 1.65 Mbp. Cholesterol is not required for growth. The species are found on animals, and some plants and insects. The optimum growth temperature is 30 to 37 degrees Celsius.^[1]

Acholeplasma laidlawii is a common contaminant of cell culture media products, and has also been used in extensive studies of lipid polymorphism because this organism alters its ratio of MGlcDG (monoglucosyl diacylglycerol) to DGlcDG (diglucosyl diacylglycerol) in response to growth conditions.^[2]

References

1. Windsor, Helena M.; Windsor, G. David; Noordergraaf, J.H. (2010). "The growth and long term survival of Acholeplasma laidlawii in media products used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing". Biologicals. 38 (2): 204. doi:10.1016/j.biologicals.2009.11.009. PMID 20153666.
2. Vance. Biochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes. p. 18. ISBN 978-0444532190.