Mycobacterium heckeshornense explained

Mycobacterium heckeshornense is a species of the phylum Actinomycetota (Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content, one of the dominant phyla of all bacteria), belonging to the genus Mycobacterium.

Description

Gram-positive, nonmotile and acid-fast rods. Cells are typically rod-shaped, with some coccoid forms.

Colony characteristicsSmooth, yellow scotochromogenic colonies appear after 4 weeks of culture.

Physiology

• Slowly growing organism, colonies appear after 4 weeks of growth.
• Able to grow at 37 °C and 45 °C.

Differential characteristics

• The phylogenetic position of this species is within the cluster defined by M. xenopi and M. botniense.
• Key differentiating features are negative tests for arylsulfatase and pyrazinamidase and susceptibility to antimycobacterial drugs.

Pathogenesis

• Seems to be pathogenic in immunocompetent humans.
• Biosafety level unknown

Type strain

• The type strain was isolated from human lung by bronchoscopy.

Strain S369 = CCUG 51897 = DSM 44428

References

• Roth et al. 2000. Mycobacterium heckeshornense sp. nov., a new pathogenic slowly growing Mycobacterium sp. causing cavitary lung disease in an immunocompetent patient. J. Clin. Microbiol.,38, 4102–4107.

External links

• Type strain of Mycobacterium heckeshornense at BacDive - the Bacterial Diversity Metadatabase