Unveiling the stealthy tactics: mycoplasma's immune evasion strategies

Jingyun Wang; Keying Liang; Li Chen; Xiaoling Su; Daoyong Liao; Jianwei Yu; Jun He

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2023.1247182

Unveiling the stealthy tactics: mycoplasma's immune evasion strategies

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Aug 31:13:1247182. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1247182. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jingyun Wang¹, Keying Liang¹, Li Chen¹, Xiaoling Su¹, Daoyong Liao¹, Jianwei Yu^{1

2}, Jun He¹

Affiliations

¹ The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.
² Department of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China.

Abstract

Mycoplasmas, the smallest known self-replicating organisms, possess a simple structure, lack a cell wall, and have limited metabolic pathways. They are responsible for causing acute or chronic infections in humans and animals, with a significant number of species exhibiting pathogenicity. Although the innate and adaptive immune responses can effectively combat this pathogen, mycoplasmas are capable of persisting in the host, indicating that the immune system fails to eliminate them completely. Recent studies have shed light on the intricate and sophisticated defense mechanisms developed by mycoplasmas during their long-term co-evolution with the host. These evasion strategies encompass various tactics, including invasion, biofilm formation, and modulation of immune responses, such as inhibition of immune cell activity, suppression of immune cell function, and resistance against immune molecules. Additionally, antigen variation and molecular mimicry are also crucial immune evasion strategies. This review comprehensively summarizes the evasion mechanisms employed by mycoplasmas, providing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of mycoplasma infections.

Keywords: antigen variation; immune evasion; mycoplasma; neutrophil extracellular traps; phagocytosis.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Antigenic Variation
Cell Wall
Humans
Immune Evasion
Mycoplasma Infections*
Mycoplasma*

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Scientific Research Project of Hunan Provincial Health Committee (Grant No. 20201915), the Emergency special project of epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19 pneumonia in the University of South China (Grant No. 12), the Hengyang Science and Technology Planning Project (Grant No. 202250045307), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (No. 2022JJ40406).