The kingdom of Mycoplasma is?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

Mycoplasma are a genus of bacteria, which are prokaryotic organisms.
Prokaryotes are characterized by the absence of a true, membrane-bound nucleus.
In the widely accepted five-kingdom classification system proposed by Whittaker, the Kingdom Monera encompasses all prokaryotes.
Therefore, Mycoplasma is correctly placed within the Kingdom Monera.

Option A: The Kingdom Plantae consists of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are typically photosynthetic (e.g., trees, flowers). Mycoplasma is a unicellular prokaryote.
Option B: The Kingdom Animalia includes multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that ingest their food (e.g., insects, mammals). Mycoplasma is a unicellular prokaryote.
Option D: The Kingdom Fungi includes eukaryotic organisms (like yeasts, molds, and mushrooms) that absorb nutrients from their environment. Mycoplasma is a prokaryote.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Microbial classification and the five-kingdom system as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A key species, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a common cause of atypical pneumonia, often referred to as "walking pneumonia" due to its milder symptoms.
Crucially for treatment, Mycoplasmas lack a cell wall. This makes them naturally resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics (like penicillins and cephalosporins) that work by disrupting cell wall synthesis.
Nurses should anticipate that infections caused by Mycoplasma will be treated with alternative antibiotics such as macrolides (e.g., azithromycin) or tetracyclines.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: "Mycoplasma".
Recall the basic biological nature of this organism. Mycoplasma is a type of bacterium.
Next, recall the fundamental classification of bacteria based on cell structure. All bacteria are prokaryotes.
Review the given options, which are different biological kingdoms.
Match the organism's classification (prokaryote) to the correct kingdom. The Kingdom Monera is the group that contains all prokaryotes.
Eliminate the other options (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi) as they are all kingdoms composed of eukaryotic organisms.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Microbiology Applied AnjuDhir 3e Part 1 p. 58-60

E6 Microbiology Essentials Sastry 4e Part 2 p. 148-150

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2016

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.