How do mycoplasmas survive without a cell wall?

Mycoplasmas are unique bacteria that lack a cell wall, which allows them to adopt various shapes and sizes. Instead of a rigid cell wall, they have a flexible cell membrane that contains sterols, which provide structural stability and protect against osmotic pressure. This adaptation enables them to thrive in diverse environments, including within host organisms, where they can evade the immune system and resist certain antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis. Their minimalistic structure also contributes to their small genome and metabolic simplicity.