Variation in Colonization, ADP-Ribosylating and Vacuolating Cytotoxin, and Pulmonary Disease Severity among Mycoplasma pneumoniae Strains

摘要

Rationale: Mycoplasma pneumoniae was recently discovered to produce an ADP-ribosylating and vacuolating cytotoxin, designated CARDS toxin, which is hypothesized to be a primary pathogenic mechanism responsible for M. pneumoniae–induced pulmonary inflammation. It is unknown if cytotoxin production varies with M. pneumoniae strain or if variation in cytotoxin production affects pulmonary disease severity.