title: An emerging mycoplasma associated with trichomoniasis, vaginal infection and disease.
abstract: Humans are colonized by thousands of bacterial species, but it is difficult to assess the metabolic and pathogenic potential of the majority of these because they have yet to be cultured. Here, we characterize an uncultivated vaginal mycoplasma tightly associated with trichomoniasis that was previously known by its 16S rRNA sequence as "Mnola." In this study, the mycoplasma was found almost exclusively in women infected with the sexually transmitted pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis, but rarely observed in women with no diagnosed disease. The genomes of four strains of this species were reconstructed using metagenome sequencing and assembly of DNA from four discrete mid-vaginal samples, one of which was obtained from a pregnant woman with trichomoniasis who delivered prematurely. These bacteria harbor several putative virulence factors and display unique metabolic strategies. Genes encoding proteins with high similarity to potential virulence factors include two collagenases, a hemolysin, an O-sialoglycoprotein endopeptidase and a feoB-type ferrous iron transport system. We propose the name "Candidatus Mycoplasma girerdii" for this potential new pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America; Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fettweis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America; Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Myrna G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Bernice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistical Sciences and Operations Research, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Abigail L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Glascock
authors.affiliation: Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nihar U
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jerome F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kimberly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Jefferson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America; Center for the Study of Biological Complexity, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Buck
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060085:Coinfection / Q000382:microbiology*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058889:Molecular Typing; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D014247:Trichomonas Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000502:physiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C105995:BspA protein, bacteria; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S