1. The Unique Microbiology and Molecular Pathogenesis of Mycoplasma genitalium.
- Author
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McGowin CL and Totten PA
- Subjects
- Female, Genome, Bacterial, Humans, Immunity, Male, Mycoplasma genitalium immunology, Risk Factors, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial complications, Urethritis complications, Urethritis microbiology, Uterine Cervicitis complications, Uterine Cervicitis microbiology, Immune Evasion, Mycoplasma Infections immunology, Mycoplasma genitalium genetics, Mycoplasma genitalium pathogenicity, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial immunology
- Abstract
Mycoplasma genitalium is increasingly appreciated as a common cause of sexually transmitted disease syndromes, including urethritis in men and cervicitis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and possibly preterm birth, tubal factor infertility, and ectopic pregnancy in women. Despite these disease associations, which parallel those of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the mechanisms by which this pathogen elicits inflammation, causes cellular damage, and persists in its only natural host (humans) are unique and are not fully understood. The purpose of this review is to briefly provide a historical background on the discovery, microbiology, and recognition of M. genitalium as a pathogen, and then summarize the recent advances in our understanding of the molecular biology and pathogenesis of this unique urogenital organism. Collectively, the basic scientific discussions herein should provide a framework for understanding the clinical and epidemiological outcomes described in the accompanying articles in this supplemental issue., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Published
- 2017
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