What is the Difference Between Mycoplasma and Bacteria?

The main difference between mycoplasma and bacteria is the presence of a cell wall. Bacteria have a cell wall that provides structure and protection, while mycoplasma lack a cell wall and have a highly pleomorphic shape, meaning they can change shape and are not fixed. Some key differences between mycoplasma and bacteria include:

• Cell Wall: Bacteria have a cell wall, which is a rigid structure that determines their shape, while mycoplasma do not have a cell wall and lack a distinct shape.
• Shape: Bacteria can have various shapes, such as spiral, coccus, or bacillus, due to the presence of a rigid cell wall. Mycoplasma, on the other hand, have a usually spherical to filamentous shape and are highly pleomorphic.
• Osmotic Fragility: Mycoplasma differ from bacteria in their osmotic fragility, which refers to how susceptible they are to changes in osmotic pressure, and their filterability through membrane filters with a pore size of 450 nm.
• Size: Mycoplasma are smaller than most bacteria, belonging to the class Mollicutes, which translates to "soft skin".

Mycoplasma are known as wall-less bacteria and are examples of cell-wall-deficient bacteria, along with L-form bacteria. Some mycoplasma species are intracellular pathogens that grow inside their hosts, making them parasitic or saprophytic.

Comparative Table: Mycoplasma vs Bacteria

Here is a table comparing the differences between Mycoplasma and Bacteria:

Mycoplasma is a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall, which results in a spherical shape and a high degree of pleomorphism. They are typically gram-negative, aerobic or facultative aerobic bacteria. On the other hand, bacteria are unicellular, prokaryotic organisms with a cell wall and a definite shape, such as spiral, coccus, or bacillus.