Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a bacteria that causes respiratory infections. It is the smallest free-living bacteria and lacks a cell wall. M. pneumoniae adheres to respiratory epithelium using adhesin proteins and causes ciliostasis and damage to cilia and epithelial cells. This allows contamination of the lower respiratory tract and causes symptoms like cough. M. pneumoniae can cause tracheobronchitis or walking pneumonia. It is diagnosed through culture, serology or PCR. Treatment involves antibiotics like erythromycin or doxycycline.