Mycoplasma alligatoris A21JP2 (ATCC 700619) genome sequencing project. Mycoplasmopsis alligatoris A21JP2

Mycoplasma alligatoris A21JP2. Mycoplasma alligatoris A21JP2 was originally isolated by from the synovium of an American alligator. This organism 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. While nan and nag systems could contribute to advantages in nutrient acquisition for this organism, it is hypothesized that virulence is a consequence of synergy of those glycosidases, co-localized by infection, that potentiates CD44- and Toll-like receptor-transduced apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammation consistent with the fulminant disease observed.