Entomoplasmatales

Abstract

Abstract En.to.mo.plas.ma.ta'les. N.L. neut. n. Entomoplasma , type genus of the order; L. fem. pl. n. suff. ‐ ales , ending to denote an order: N.L. fem. pl. n. Entomoplasmatales , the Entomoplasma order. Tenericutes / Mollicutes / Entomoplasmatales This order in the class Mollicutes has been assigned to a group of nonhelical and helical mollicutes that are regularly associated with arthropod or plant hosts. The description of organisms in the order is essentially the same as for the class. Two families are designated, Entomoplasmataceae for nonhelical mollicutes and Spiroplasmataceae for helical ones. The order consists of four major phylogenetic clades: the entomoplasmataceae clade, which consists of the genus Entomoplasma, and the Apis, Citri–Chrysopicola–Mirum, and Ixodetis clades of the genus Spiroplasma . All cells are chemo‐organotrophic, usually fermenting glucose through the phosphoenolpyruvate‐dependent sugar transferase system. Arginine may be hydrolyzed, but urea is not. Cells may require sterol for growth. Temperature optimum for growth is usually 30–32°C, with a few species able to grow at 37°C. Genome sizes range from 780 to 2220 kb by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), with DNA G + C contents ranging from 25 to 34 mol%. Like members of the Mycoplasmatales , all organisms in this order are thought to utilize the UGA codon to encode tryptophan. DNA G + C content (mol%) : 25–34 ( T m , Bd). Type genus : Entomoplasma Tully 1993 VP .