Bacterial pathogens outwit host immune defences via stealth mechanisms
(PHYSorg.com Medicine & Health)

Despite their relatively small genome in comparison to other bacteria, mycoplasmas can cause persistent and often difficult-to-treat infections in humans and animals. An extensive study by researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna has now shown how mycoplasmas escape the immune response despite their minimal `genetic arsenal`. Mycoplasmas vary their surface as needed by switching from one gene variant to an alternative when the first is recognized by the immune system: Mycoplasmas `mask` themselves. They use their small genome in such a clever strategic way that they can even compensate for the loss of an enzyme that is important for this process. This could be shown for the first time in vivo in a living host organism, thus representing a breakthrough in the research of this special group of bacterial pathogens. The study was published in PLOS Pathogens.