Ureaplasma

Abstract

Since the first description of the organisms now known as ureaplasmas more than 50 years ago, there has been considerable progress in understanding their biological characteristics, and many clinical and basic investigations have documented their contributions as pathogens in eukaryotic hosts. Even though cultures are generally reliable when properly performed, procedures for growing the organisms from clinical specimens are somewhat complex, expensive, and still not widely available outside of large hospitals, reference laboratories, or research facilities. Culture alone cannot distinguish the two Ureaplasma species that infect humans from one another; nor can it identify and distinguish among individual serovars. Such discriminations can be valuable in studies of epidemiology and mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. Analysis of data obtained from the determination of the complete genome sequences of all 14 serotypes of human Ureaplasma spp. And development of molecular-based assays have further enhanced capabilities for detection of ureaplasmas in clinical specimens and performance of research studies aimed at understanding their roles as pathogens in many different conditions. This chapter provides background information, descriptions, and methodologies for the performance of molecularbased assays for the detection and characterization of human ureaplasmas that can be applied in clinical and research settings. Molecular- based procedures that have been developed and published thus far vary both in their gene targets and in the basic assay methods. Therefore, anyone desiring to perform molecular detection assays for ureaplasmas must design and perform internal validation procedures to ensure accuracy and use rigorous quality control for all parts of the process. Knowledge of the basic biology of ureaplasmas and the conditions with which they have been associated is important for understanding the basis for how molecular assays for their detection and characterization have been developed and applied.