Rank: Species
Lineage: Bacteria;Tenericutes;Mollicutes;Mycoplasmatales;Mycoplasmataceae;Ureaplasma;Ureaplasma urealyticum
Description: Ureaplasma urealyticum is part of the normal flora of the human urogenital tract. This organism, however, can cause urethritis and has been associated with spontaneous abortion, premature birth, meningitis, and a severe respiratory disease of premature infants. U. urealyticum strains exhibit antigenic heterogeneity. Isolates obtained from human urogenital tract have been classified into 14 recognized serovars which show no serological cross-reactivity with ureaplasmas from other hosts and uniquely express human immuoglobulin A1 protease activity. U. urealyticum formerly consisted of 2 biovars. Biovar 1, which includes serovars 1, 3, 6, and 14 has been designated U. parvum, while biovar 2 (serovars 2, 4, 5, and 7-13) has been designated U. urealyticum.
Reference Material:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=Ureaplasma%20urealyticum
