Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a bacterium that causes tuberculosis. M. tuberculosis was first described on 24 March 1882 by Robert Koch. The bacterium was first called the "tubercle bacillus", and is now also known as Koch's bacillus. This disease is spread by the air and from getting coughed or sneezed on by an infected patient.
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| M. tuberculosis bacterial colonies | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Order: | Actinomycetales |
| Suborder: | Corynebacterineae |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Binomial name | |
| Mycobacterium tuberculosis Zopf 1883 | |
Tuberculosis used to kill over half the people who were infected. The bacterium was almost wiped out by antibiotics, but is now a threat again because strains have appeared which are resistant to all the usual antibiotics.[1][2]
References
- Gallagher, James 2013. "Analysis: antibiotic apocalypse – is the end nigh?". BBC News Health & Science.
- Walsh, Fergus 2014. "'Golden age' of antibiotics 'set to end'". BBC News Science & Environment.
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