Draft genome sequence of a novel Mycoplasma species identified from the respiratory tract of an Alaska moose (Alces alces gigas)

Authors: Herndon, David; BECKMEN, KIMBERLEE - Alaska Department Of Fish And Game; HIGHLAND, MARGARET - Kansas State University

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/8/2021
Publication Date: 2/25/2021
Citation: Herndon, D.R., Beckmen, K.B., Highland, M.A. 2021. Draft genome sequence of a novel Mycoplasma species identified from the respiratory tract of an Alaska moose (Alces alces gigas). Microbiology Resource Announcements. 10(8). Article e01371- 20. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.01371-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.01371-20

Interpretive Summary: Atypical pneumonia in small ruminants is associated with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. This bacterium is generally regarded as difficult to grow in culture, therefore diagnosis of infection is performed by molecular methods, including PCR. In the course of investigating the prevalence of M.ovipneumoniae in wild and domestic species, we identified a novel Mycoplasma that has the potential to yield false positives when screening for M.ovipneumoniae by PCR. This novel bacterium was cultured in a eukaryotic cell line and extracted DNA was used to construct a draft genome sequence. This resource will enable improvement of diagnostic methods by conferring greater specificity to molecular assays when screening for M.ovipneumoniae.

Technical Abstract: Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae is associated with atypical pneumonia in domestic and wild ruminants. Owing to its fastidious nature, detection of this bacterium is commonly done by PCR. Here we describe a draft genome sequence of a novel Mycoplasma species with potential to cause false-positive results when screening for M. ovipneumoniae.