Ureaplasma urealyticum is a bacterium belonging to the genusUreaplasma and the familyMycoplasmataceae in the orderMycoplasmatales. This family consists of the genera Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. Its type strain is T960. There are two known biovars of this species; T960 and 27. These strains of bacterium are commonly found in the urogenital tracks of human beings, but overgrowth can lead to infections that cause the patient discomfort. Unlike most bacterium, Ureaplasma urealyticum lacks a cell wall making it unique in physiology and medical treatment.
Classification
The six recognised Ureaplasma species have a GC content of 27 to 30 percent and a genome size ranging from 0.76 to 1.17 million base pairs, and cholesterol is required for growth. A defining characteristic of the genus is that they perform ureahydrolysis, which creates ammonia as a product. Some strains originally classified as U. urealyticum should be treated as a new species, U. parvum. Both strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum have had their DNA sequenced, using a PCR amplification and dideoxy termination method. Their sequences can be accessed through public records and databases. Most of the16S rDNA sequence of the two strains constitute the exact same nucleotides bases, yet small differences have been acknowledged. Due to the direct similarity and the increased variation in other species of Ureaplasma, it is thought that the two strains of Ureaplasma urealyticum have evolutionary diverged together. In the same study conducted, using the same 16s rDNA aligned sequences, they concluded all the mammalian strains diverged and coevolved with their corresponding species during the Cretaceous period. It was found that the most closely related species strain of Ureaplasma to Ureaplasma urealyticum was Ureaplasma diversum.
Clinical relevance
U. urealyticum can cause urethritis and bacterial vaginosis. Infection can occur in extragenital sites.A common symptom associated with these infections is the "fishy" smell that is created due to the production of ammonia by the hydrolysis or urea. Patients should confirm diagnosis with a doctors visit and seek proper treatment to prevent long-term affects. The bacterium has high correlations with the Human Papillomavirus. It has also has been linked to infertility in both males and females. In addition, this pathogen may latently infect the chorionic villi tissues of pregnant women, thereby impacting pregnancy outcome. Issues that arise from Ureaplasma urealyticum infections during pregnancy include preterm birth and impacted embryonic development. Some patients have given birth to childrensubjected to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhaging and necrotizing enterocolitis. Patients can evolve resistances to normal antibiotic treatments due to the distinctive physiology of these organisms. Patients who are pregnant have further limitations on the treatment course of a Ureaplasma urealyticum infection, making it far harder to successfully cure. Alternative treatments are being studied and have shown positive results such as manuka honey.
