biostudies-literatureJores JCentrum for International MigrationCGIAR research program on Livestock and FishGerman Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentNational Science Foundation1559-1563https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6473168biostudies-literatureUnknown219(10)Capsular polysaccharides have been confirmed to be an important virulence trait in many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, they are proposed to be virulence traits in minimal Mycoplasma that cause disease in humans and animals. In the current study, goats were infected with the caprine pathogen Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri or an engineered mutant lacking the capsular polysaccharide, galactofuranose. Goats infected with the mutant strain showed only transient fever. In contrast, 5 of 8 goats infected with the parental strain reached end-point criteria after infection. These findings confirm that galactofuranose is a virulence factor in M. mycoides.The Journal of infectious diseasesIn vivo role of capsular polysaccharide in Mycoplasma mycoides.PMC6473168IOS-111015181136800CRP3.781170269Posthaus HVashee SSchieck EBlanchard ALabroussaa FJores JLiljander ALartigue CSacchini FfalseIn vivo role of capsular polysaccharide in Mycoplasma mycoides.Capsular polysaccharides have been confirmed to be an important virulence trait in many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Similarly, they are proposed to be virulence traits in minimal Mycoplasma that cause disease in humans and animals. In the current study, goats were infected with the caprine pathogen Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri or an engineered mutant lacking the capsular polysaccharide, galactofuranose. Goats infected with the mutant strain showed only transient fever. In contrast, 5 of 8 goats infected with the parental strain reached end-point criteria after infection. These findings confirm that galactofuranose is a virulence factor in M. mycoides.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Apr2025-04-19T07:17:28.406Z2019-06-06T22:58:13ZS-EPMC64731683054113110.1093/infdis/jiy713