Ureaplasma urealyticum is classified within the family Mycoplasmataceae. Which biochemical property uniquely distinguishes Ureaplasma species from all other members of this family?

• A Hydrolysis of urea with generation of ammonia ✓
• B Ability to grow on ordinary nutrient agar without serum
• C Fermentation of glucose with acid production
• D Presence of a peptidoglycan cell wall

Explanation

Ureaplasma species are unique among mycoplasmas in possessing urease, which splits urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide; colonies are tiny and were originally called T-strains because of this reaction. This property underlies their association with urolithiasis, since ammonia alkalinises urine and promotes struvite stone formation, and with nongonococcal urethritis. Like all mycoplasmas, Ureaplasma lacks a cell wall and requires sterol-containing media such as PPLO agar for growth.

Reference: Ananthanarayan and Paniker's Textbook of Microbiology, 11th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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