MYCOBACTERIUM HECKESHORNENSE

'''Mycobacterium heckeshornense'''

Contents

Description

Pathogenesis

Type Strain

References

Description

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