User:Microbemorgan/sandbox

Discovery

Mycoplasma alligatoris was first isolated in a study led by D. R. Brown of six captive alligators showing signs of pneumonia, polyserositis (inflammation of serous membranes), and multifocal arthritis. The isolates were obtained from various organs, blood, synovial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid. Primary isolates were cultured in ATCC medium 98 agar containing 10⁵ U penicillin G 1^-1, 10 ⁵ U polymyin B 1 ^-1 , 65 mg cefoperazone 1 ^-1 and 20% (v/v) fetal bovine serum in 5% CO₂ atmosphere or in ambient air.  Isolates were then grown at 7 different temperatures in an anaerobic environment, reaching optimum growth at 30 to 34°C. Cultures were diluted in broth medium then passed through membrane filters of various pore diameters, yielding similar results for all 9 isolates. Diluted isolates were then tested for reversion in both broth and agar medium without antibiotics, with no observed reversion. Isolates were grown in broth medium with large (20%) and minute (0.2%) amounts of fetal bovine serum as a sterol source. Growth was inhibited in the latter. The 16S rRNA gene was sequenced, yielding a unique sequence, suggesting the discovery of a previously unidentified organism.  The study further investigated the pathogenicity of the newly discovered Mycoplasma alligatoris by inoculation of four healthy alligators with the bacteria and one control alligator inoculated with sterile broth. Three of the experimental alligators died within three weeks of inoculation. The surviving alligator tested free of M. alligatoris after 14 weeks, further supporting the researchers suspicions of the new isolate as the cause of the investigated symptoms (Brown et al. 2001)