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Mycoplasma Resources

Several species of mycoplasmas are human pathogens that are characterized by the lack of a cell wall that is typically found in bacteria. These micro-organisms are resistant to antibiotics because drugs like penicillin target the formation of the cell walls. Mycoplasma genitalium causes respiratory infections especially in those suffering from chronic illness such as cancer and AIDS in which the patient's immune system is already compromised by other infections or chemotherapeutic drugs.

  1. Professional Resources

    • There are informational resources available on the Internet for both professionals in the medical and scientific fields as well as for the lay person. Several professional resources are listed on Meridian Bioscience Europe, which include the American Society for Clinical Pathology, Commission on Laboratory Accreditation, the College of American Pathologists, Infectious Diseases Society of America and the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

    General information

    • For general information about mycoplasma, the Centers for Disease Control offers access to books, medical journals, clinical trials and drug information for no fee. Websites maintained by universities, such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, have unlimited access to current research being conducted in these institutions. A website maintained by the federal government, the National Center for Biotechnology Information, also offers unlimited access to books, research articles and clinical trials.

    Resources for Veterans

    • There are also resources available for veterans exposed to mycoplasma while serving overseas, such as the Mycoplasma Research Institute, the Environmental Health Center of Dallas, Texas and the Mycoplasma Registry located in San Diego, California. Additionally, veterans can find information and available services at the Veterans' Administration affiliated with the University of Michigan located in Ann Arbor.

    Testing for Mycoplasma Infections

    • Testing for mycoplasma infections are available through many organizations including International Molecular Diagnostics, Inc.; Immunosciences Labs, Inc.; Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; Arthritis Research Center; and the Department of Defense -- Medical Registry.

    Contamination of Laboratory Specimens

    • The Mycoplasma Resource Center, administered by Bionique Testing Laboratories, provides information for scientists concerned about mycoplasma contamination in laboratory specimens. It answers questions pertaining to the problems of contamination of cell and tissue samples in hospitals and research institutions. Additionally, it offers technical articles and testing services for the detection of mycoplasma contamination as well as elimination procedures and other products and services.

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