Adherence of pathogenic mycoplasmas to host cells.
The significant genome compaction in mycoplasmas was made possible by adoption of a parasitic lifestyle. During their evolution and adaptation to a parasitic mode of life the mycoplasmas have developed various genetic systems enabling their attachment to host tissues as well as a highly plastic set of variable surface proteins. The generation of a versatile surface coat through high-frequency phase and size variation provides the organism with a useful tool for immune system avoidance, allowing the mycoplasmas to escape antibody attack, explaining why these minute organisms are such successful parasites.
Razin
S
S
Department of Membrane and Ultrastructure Research, The Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. srazin@cc.huji.ac.il
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial