Properties of Mycoplasma hominis 4330.

Mycoplasma strain 4330, one of the earliest strains of pleuropneumonia-like organisms to be isolated from man in the United States, has been found to resemble M. hominis type 1 by serological methods (the growth inhibition and latex agglutination tests). The results of earlier serological studies indicated a similarity between the Campo and 4330 strains which was not detected by use of the cultures currently available. Strain 4330 differs from strains of Mycoplasma recently isolated from man by producing acid from a variety of carbohydrates. This acquisition of biochemical properties may be the result of hundreds of transfers on artificial media during a period of more than a quarter of a century. Identification of the strain was deemed advisable, since two different cultures and a mixed culture existed under the designation "4330." The extraneous organisms were found to be closely related to M. laidlawii by their biological and serological properties.