 | The article's lead section may need to be rewritten. The reason given is: too short. (October 2024) |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Mycoplasmatota |
| Class: | Mollicutes |
| Order: | Mycoplasmatales |
| Family: | Mycoplasmataceae |
| Genus: | Mycoplasma |
| Species: | M. pneumoniae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Mycoplasma pneumoniae Somerson et al., 1963
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a species of very small cell bacteria that lack a cell wall, in the class Mollicutes. M. pneumoniae is a human pathogen that causes the disease Mycoplasma pneumonia, a form of atypical bacterial pneumonia related to cold agglutinin disease. M. pneumoniae is characterized by the absence of a peptidoglycan cell wall and resulting resistance to many cell wall active antibacterial agents.
The persistence of M. pneumoniae infections even after treatment is associated with its ability to mimic host cell surface composition.