Acholeplasmataceae

Acholeplasmataceae
Acholeplasma laidwalii cells and extracellular vesicles
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Bacteria
Phylum: Mycoplasmatota
Class: Mollicutes
Order: Acholeplasmatales
Family: Acholeplasmataceae
Edward & Freundt 1970
Genera
Synonyms
  • "Sapromycetaceae" Sabin 1941
  • "Saprophytaceae" Sabin 1941

Acholeplasmataceae is a family of bacteria. It is the only family in the order Acholeplasmatales, placed in the class Mollicutes. The family comprises the genera Acholeplasma and Phytoplasma. Phytoplasma has the candidatus status, because members still could not be cultured.

Etymology: The names Acholeplasmataceae and Acholetoplasmatales are derived from the Greek a = not, cholè = bile and plasma = anything moulded or formed.[1]
Species in the order Acholeplasmatales can grow in a medium without cholesterol, unlike species in the order Mycoplasmatales. Cholesterol, a sterol, is an important component of the cell membrane of mycoplasmas, whereas in acholeplasmas and in bacteria in general it is absent.

  1. ^ D.G. Edward, E.A. Freundt Amended nomenclature for strains related to Mycoplasma laidlawii.; J Gen Microbiol. 1970 Jul; 62; PDF