Bacteriology of mycobacteria: taxonomic and morphological characteristics

Bacteriological characteristics of organisms belonging to Genus Mycobacterium which involves more than 60 species are described. Mycobacterial organisms can be divided into the following groups having differential characteristics, on the basis of the results of biological, biochemical, and genetic investigations, including lipid analysis, DNA probe test, and comparative 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. First, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. africanum, etc.). Second, cultivable but slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria, including photochromogens (Runyon Group I) such as M. kansasii, M. marinum, M. simiae, M. intermedium, and M. asiaticum, scotochromogens (Runyon Group II) such as M. scrofulaceum, M. szulgai, M. injectum, M. lentiflavum, and M. gordonae, nonphotochromogenens (Runyon Group III) such as M. avium, M. intracellulare, M. xenopi, M. malmoense, M. genavense, M. celatum, and M. gastri. Third, cultivable rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria (Runyon Group IV) including M. fortuitum, M. chenolae, M. abscessus, M. phlei, and M. smegmatis. Fourth, noncultivable mycobacteria including M. leprae. About 30 species of Mycobacterium cause pulmonary, dermal, lymphatic, and disseminated infections in human beings. This paper mainly deals with the taxonomic, morphological, and other biological characteristics of these mycobacterial organisms.