Genital mycoplasmas are sexually transmitted. There are considerable public concern that causative agents of sexually transmitted diseases might be transmitted nonsexually through public restrooms. In the present study, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and M. penetrans among genital mycoplasmas were identified in 100 public restroom toilet bowls (50 men's and 50 women's public restrooms, each). Mycoplasmas were genotypically identified by two methods; (1) PCR of primary selective culture and (2) direct PCR of original specimens before primary selective culture. From 50 men's public restrooms, M. hominis, U. urealyticum and M. penetrans were identified from PCR of primary selective cultures in 6%, 4% and 0% of the specimens, respectively and M. hominis and U. urealyticum was codetected in 2% of those. And M. hominis, U. urealyticum and M. penetrans were identified by direct PCR in 20%, 16% and 0% of the original specimens, respectively and co-detection rate of M. hominis and U. urealyticum was 4% in those. From 50 women's public restrooms, 38% was positive for M. hominis, 14% for U. urealyticum, 0% for M. penetrans and 10% for both U. urealyticum and M. penetrans by PCR of primary selective culture. And 50% was positive for M. hominis, 46% for U. urealyticum and 0% for M. penetrans and 34% for both M. hominis and U. urealyticum by direct PCR of the original specimens. These results indicate that the genital mycoplasmas can survive for considerable duration in toilet bowels, and might be transmitted by through public restrooms.
Mycoplasma hominis ; Mycoplasma penetrans ; Mycoplasma* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

BACKGROUNDThis study was designed to investigate the potential pathogenicity of Mycoplasma penetrans (M. penetrans) and its molecular mechanisms responsible for the induction of iNOS gene expression in mouse macrophages stimulated by lipid-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs) prepared from M. penetrans.

METHODSMouse macrophages were stimulated with M. penetrans LAMPs to assay the production of nitric oxide (NO). The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and the effects of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, on the production of nitric oxide and the expression of iNOS were also assessed in mouse macrophages treated with M. penetrans LAMPs by indirect immunofluorescence and Western blotting.

RESULTSM. penetrans LAMPs stimulated mouse macrophages to produce nitric oxide in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The mRNA and protein levels of iNOS were also upregulated in response to LAMP stimulation and inhibited by PDTC treatment. M. penetrans LAMPs were found to trigger NF-kappaB activation, a possible mechanism for the induction of iNOS expression.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that M. penetrans may be an important etiological factor of certain diseases due to the ability of M. penetrans LAMPs to stimulate the expression of iNOS, which is probably mediated through the activation of NF-kappaB.

Animals ; Bacterial Proteins ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme Induction ; Lipoproteins ; pharmacology ; Membrane Proteins ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mycoplasma penetrans ; chemistry ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; biosynthesis ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis