What Is Mycobacterium Tuberculosis?
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis, a respiratory and sometimes systemic infection. The nature of the bacteria allows them to evade the immune response and cause prolonged infections. Other Mycobacterium species cause similar infections.
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Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
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Mycobaterium tuberculosis causes different diseases. The bacteria are characterized by their waxy capsule, which allows them to resist the immune system and survive on surfaces outside a host.
Respiratory Tuberculosis
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When M. tuberculosis is inhaled, it colonizes the deepest parts of the lungs. Because of their capsule, the bacteria are not fully destroyed, leading to lengthy respiratory disease.
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Systemic Tuberculosis
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M. tuberculosis can travel from the lungs to other organs, causing a systemic disease. The immune system has a very hard time clearing the bacteria from the body.
Other Mycobacterium Species
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Mycobacterium leprae causes Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy. Mycobactrium avium, marinum and other species cause opportunistic infections of the skin and lungs when immune-compromised people are infected with them.
Diagnosis
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Mycobacterium species bacteria are notorious for taking a long time to grow in culture in the lab. Laboratory tests that detect antibodies created by the immune system specifically against Mycobacterium species bacteria are quicker in identifying a possible infection.
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