Adaptation of Mycoplasmas to Antimicrobial Peptides: Development of Melittin Resistance in Acholeplasma laidlawii Is Associated with Changes in Genomic and Proteomic Profiles and in Virulence

Abstract

For the first time it is shown that the development of resistance to melittin in Acholeplasma laidlawii, a mycoplasma that is widely spread in nature and that is the main contaminant of cell cultures and vaccines, is associated with significant changes in the genomic profile, in cellular and vesicular proteomes, as well as in virulence.

Keywords: Acholeplasma laidlawii; antimicrobial peptides; cellular and vesicular proteomes; genomic profile; melittin; resistance; virulome.