NC_014014:153837 Mycoplasma crocodyli MP145 chromosome, complete genome
Host Lineage: Mycoplasma crocodyli; Mycoplasma; Mycoplasmataceae; Mycoplasmatales; Tenericutes; Bacteria
General Information: Mycoplasma crocodyli was isolated from the joint of a crocodile with exudative polyarthritis. The siblingspecies of M. crocodyli, Mycoplasma alligatoris causes acute lethalprimary infection of susceptible hosts, notably American alligators.This pathogen is studied to understand the mechanisms and evolutionaryorigins of that virulence. A genome survey indicated that M. alligatorisuses sialidase (Nanl) and hyaluronidase (NagH) to generate fuel forglycolysis from host cell glycans. M. crocodyli, which does not causedisease in American alligators, possesses NagH but not Nanl, so damageto the host's extracellular matrix alone cannot explain the particularvirulence of M. alligatoris.