Hydrodynamic, chemical, and optical properties of arginine deiminase (EC 3.5.3.6) from Mycoplasma arthritidis are reported for the enzyme isolated from log phase cells. The s& +, and D’& values of the enzyme are 5.48 S and 5.87 x 10V7 cm’/s, respectively; the molecular weight is 87,300. Determination of the amino acid composition shows that about 45% of the residues are nonpolar. Another unique...

The capacity of various mycoplasma strains and species to induce lymphocyte transformation in vitro was studied. Of six strains of Mycoplasma pulmonis studied, five displayed mitogenic activity with rat lymphocytes. Among those M. pulmonis strains, our MP15 isolate and the Negroni strain exhibited particularly potent mitogenic capacity. The murine mycoplasmas M. neurolyticum and M. arthritidis ...

Mycoplasma strains (B1, B2, CS, and S1A) were isolated from the saliva of normal cats. These were compared with a strain (CO) isolated from the eye of a cat with severe conjunctivitis. On the basis of morphology, biochemical reactions, and antigenic composition, two distinct species were recognizable. Strains CO, B1, and B2 were antigenically unrelated to the other species tested; strains CS an...

We previously identified two surface-exposed Mycoplasma arthritidis protein antigens, designated MAA1 and MAA2, that may be involved in cytadherence. Since adherence to host tissues is an important first step in most bacterial infections, we suggest that MAA1 and MAA2 may be virulence factors for M. arthritidis. In order to provide evidence for such a role, we conducted a series of experiments ...

Mycoplasma arthritidis is a naturally occurring murine pathogen, and the disease model has been used extensively to understand inflammatory mechanisms. Recently, Triton X-114 extracts of a virulent strain of M. arthritidis were found to be more potent in activating macrophages than were those from an avirulent strain, suggesting a role in disease. Here, octyl glucoside extraction of cells was u...

No cytochrome pigments were detected by difference (reduced minus oxidized) spectroscopy at liquid nitrogen temperature in whole-cell preparations or membrane fractions of Acholeplasma axanthum S273, Acholeplasma equifetale N93, Acholeplasma granularum BTS39, Acholeplasma laidlawii B-PG9, Acholeplasma modicum PG-49, Acholeplasma oculi 19L, Mycoplasma arginini G230, Mycoplasma arthritidis 07, My...