Mycobacterium conspicuum

Mycobacterium conspicuum 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 and nonmotile acid-fast coccobacilli. Does not form spores, capsules or aerial hyphae.

Colony characteristics

• Dysgonic and nonphotochromogenic, pale yellow colonies on Löwenstein-Jensen agar.

Physiology

• Slow growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at temperatures between 22 °C and 31 °C after 2–3 weeks.
• Susceptible to ethambutol, rifampin, streptomycin, resistant to pyrazinamide.
• Synthesis of α- and keto-mycolates and wax esters.
• no tolerance to 5% NaCl, positive for Tween 80 hydrolysis and for 10-day-arylsulfatase. Negative for production of nicotinic acid, acetamidase, benzamidase, urease, isonicotinamidase, nicotinamidase, pyrazinamidase, succinidamidase, nitrate reductase and tellurite reduction.

Pathogenesis

Opportunistic pathogen, disseminated mycobacteriosis, Biosafety level 2.

Type Strain

First isolated from two male HIV infected patients in Germany. Strain 3895/92 = ATCC 700090 = CIP 105165 = DSM 44136.

References

• Springer et al. 1996. Mycobacterium conspicuum sp. nov., a new species isolated from patients with disseminated infections. J. Clin. Microbiol., 33, 2805–2811. PMID 8576323