Mycobacterium

(mī″kō-bak-tir′ē-ŭm)

To hear audio pronunciation of this topic, purchase a subscription or log in.

[myco- + bacterium]
A genus of slender, acid-fast, nonmotile, non-spore-forming bacilli of the family Mycobacteriaceae, which includes the causative agents of tuberculosis and leprosy. Species include M. africanum, M. avium intracellulare, M. bovis, M. chelonei, M. fortuitum, M. gastri, M. gordonae, M. kansasii, M. marinum, M. scrofulaceum, M. terrae, M. triviale, M. smegmatis, and M. xenopi.

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.