Definition

Noun: A specific type of mycoplasma (a genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall) that is resistant to antibiotics and is known to cause a form of pneumonia in humans. The name historically derives from its biological similarity to organisms that cause pleuropneumonia in cattle.

Usage

This is a technical, medical term. It is used almost exclusively in scientific, veterinary, and clinical contexts to refer to this particular pathogenic agent. * The study focused on the transmission of the pleuropneumonialike organism. * Diagnosis was complicated by the presence of a pleuropneumonialike organism resistant to standard treatment.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often abbreviated as PPLO, especially in older medical literature and laboratory settings.
  • The culture was tested for the presence of PPLO.

Variants and Related Words

• PPLO: The standard abbreviation for "pleuropneumonialike organism."
• Mycoplasma: The broader genus of bacteria to which this organism belongs. is a common human pathogen.
• Pleuropneumonia: The serious lung disease in animals that this organism's name references.

Synonyms

• Mycoplasma (specifically, types pathogenic to humans such as ). Note: "Pleuropneumonialike organism" is a more specific historical term for certain human-pathogenic mycoplasmas.

Noun

1. a mycoplasma resistant to antibiotics that causes a kind of pneumonia in humans