Definition

1. Noun:
   • A taxonomic order of bacteria: "Mycoplasmatales" is the scientific name for an order of very small bacteria that lack a cell wall. This order is coextensive with the family Mycoplasmataceae, meaning it contains the same group of organisms.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The order Mycoplasmatales includes organisms that are common parasites in animals.
  • Scientists studied the evolutionary history of the Mycoplasmatales.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic hierarchy: Used in scientific literature to classify a specific group of wall-less bacteria within the class Mollicutes.
  • The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the placement of these species within the Mycoplasmatales.

Variants and Related Words

• Mycoplasmataceae (n): The family name for these bacteria, which is coextensive with the order Mycoplasmatales.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a cause of pneumonia, belongs to the family Mycoplasmataceae.
• Mycoplasma (n): The genus name for many species within this order/family.
  • Several Mycoplasma species are pathogenic to humans.

Synonyms

• Mollicutes (n): The class to which this order belongs, sometimes used informally to refer to similar bacteria. (Note: This is a broader, less specific term.)

Related Terms

• Pleomorphic (adj): A term often used to describe bacteria in the Mycoplasmatales due to their lack of a rigid cell wall, allowing them to vary in shape.
• Parasitic (adj): Describing the lifestyle of many members of this order, as they often depend on a host organism.

Noun

1. coextensive with the family Mycoplasmataceae