Classic mycoplasmas have been reported to induce chromosome changes in leucocyte, amnion, and WI 38 cell cultures. Aula and Nichols (1967) found that M. salivarium increased chromosome breakage in human leucocyte cultures; M. arthriditis and M. fermentans failed to produce chromosome changes, but all three species caused mitotic in- hibition. The depletion of arginine from the medium was suggested by these investigators to be responsible for the chromosome changes. Fogh and Fogh (1965) observed a reduction in chromo- somes and also an increase in chromosomal aber- rations in FL human amnion cells infected with mycoplasmas. The species of mycoplasma was not identified. They observed chromatid breaks within the first week of infection, other changes developed more slowly in infected cell cultures, and included endoreduplications, translocations, dicen- tric chromosomes, and acentric fragments. New and persistent chromosome varieties were found; these were telocentric, metacentric, and subtelo- centric types. Paton, Jacobs, and Perkins (1967) studying chromosomes in WI 38 cells, reported that three human mycoplasma species caused changes which included chromatid breaks, structural abnor- malities, and increased polyploidy. M. pharyngis (orale 1), M. fermentans, and M. hominis were studied. Though all produced changes, M. hominis and M. fermentans were less damaging than M. pharyngis. Standbridge et al (1969) have found M. laidlawii, M. hyorhinis, and M. pulmonis capable of inducing karyological changes in WI 38 cell cultures.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Kundsin et al. (1971) studied this question.