Truncation as a novel form of variation of the p50 gene in Mycoplasma hominis.

A characteristic feature of the mycoplasmas is the presence of variable surface proteins which may play an important role in the adaptation of the cell-wall-less organisms to their host environments. In addition, this antigen variation may be an important pathogenic property of the organism. The ubiquity of the gene encoding P50, an adhesin of Mycoplasma hominis FBG, and its transcription were analysed in different isolates of M.