Mycoplasma crocodyli MP145

Mycoplasma crocodyli (strain ATCC 51981 / MP145) is a bacterium isolated from the joint of a crocodile with exudative polyarthritis. The sibling species of M. crocodyli, Mycoplasma alligatoris causes acute lethal primary infection of susceptible hosts, notably American alligators. This pathogen is studied to understand the mechanisms and evolutionary origins of that virulence. A genome survey indicated that M. alligatoris uses sialidase (Nanl) and hyaluronidase (NagH) to generate fuel for glycolysis from host cell glycans. M. crocodyli, which does not cause disease in American alligators, possesses NagH but not Nanl, so damage to the host's extracellular matrix alone cannot explain the particular virulence of M. alligatoris. (Adapted from : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/genomeprj?Db=genomeprj&cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=36867). (EBI Integr8)