Julian Nowak later proposed the name mycoplasma for certain filamentous microorganisms imagined to have both cellular and acellular stages in their lifecycles, which could explain how they were visible with a microscope, but passed through filters impermeable to other bacteria. Later, the name for these mycoplasmas was pleuropneumonia-like organisms (PPLO), broadly referring to organisms similar in colonial morphology and filterability to the causative agent (a Mycoplasma species) of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. At present, all these organisms are classified as Mollicutes and the term Mycoplasma refers solely to the genus. Species that infect humans
Species of Mycoplasma, other than those listed below, have been recovered from humans, but are assumed to have been contracted from a non-human host. The following species use humans as the primary host:

Pathophysiology
Mycoplasma species have been isolated from women with bacterial vaginosis. M. genitalium is found in women with pelvic inflammatory disease. In addition, infection is associated with increased risk of cervicitis, infertility, preterm birth and spontaneous abortion. Mycoplasma genitalium has developed resistance to some antibiotics. Mycoplasma species are associated with infant respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and intraventricular hemorrhage in preterm infants. Characteristics
Over 100 species have been included in the genus Mycoplasma, a member of the class Mollicutes. They are parasites or commensals of humans, animals, and plants. The genus Mycoplasma uses vertebrate and arthropod hosts. Dietary nitrogen availability has been shown to alter codon bias and genome evolution in Mycoplasma and Phytoplasma.Mycoplasma species are among the smallest free-living organisms (about 0.2 - 0.3 µm in diameter).
Dysmelia (from the Greek dys (δυσ-), "bad" + mélos (μέλος), "limb" + English suffix -ia) is a congenital disorder of a limb resulting from a disturbance in embryonic development. Types
Dysmelia can refer to
missing (aplasia) limbs: amelia, oligodactyly, congenital amputation e.g. tibial or radial aplasia
malformation of limbs: shortening (micromelia, rhizomelia or mesomelia), ectrodactyly, phocomelia, meromelia, syndactyly, brachydactyly, club foot
too many limbs: polymelia, polydactyly, polysyndactyly
others: tetraamelia, hemimelia, symbrachydactyly

Occurrence rate
Birth defects involving limbs occur in 1 per 1000. Causes
Dysmelia can be caused by
Inheritance of abnormal genes, e.g. polydactyly, ectrodactyly or brachydactyly, symptoms of deformed limbs then often occur in combination with other symptoms (syndromes)
external causes during pregnancy (thus not inherited), e.g. via amniotic band syndrome
teratogenic drugs (e.g. thalidomide, which causes phocomelia) or environmental chemicals
ionizing radiation (nuclear weapons, radioiodine, radiation therapy)
infections
metabolic imbalance

Syndromes with dysmelia
References
External links
DysNet: An organisation for people affected by Dysmelia (congenital limb difference)
Reach: Association for Children with Upper Limb Deficiency)