Mycobacterium is a genus of acid-fast bacteria classified by their acid-fast staining, presence of mycolic acids in their cell walls, and high G+C content in their DNA. They include pathogens like M. tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis, and M. leprae, which causes leprosy. M. tuberculosis is transmitted person-to-person via airborne droplets and causes primary infection in the lungs which can later reactivate and spread to other organs. Diagnosis involves microscopic examination of acid-fast stained sputum samples and culturing on media like LJ medium. M. leprae causes a range of clinical manifestations depending on immune response, from tuberculoid to lepromatous

1. MYCOBACTERIUM
MARIAM NOORU

2. Mycobacterium is a genus of Mycobacteriaceae family
They are nonmotile, non–spore-forming, aerobic bacilli.
They are slightly curved rods with filamentous and branching forms on occasion.
The cell wall is thick, complex, and lipid-rich, resulting in a hydrophobic surface.
They do not stain readily, but once stained, resist decolourisation with dilute
mineral acids. Hence they are called ‘Acid fast bacilli’.
Bacteria are classified in the genus Mycobacterium on the basis of
(1) their acid-fastness,
(2) the presence of cell wall mycolic acids
(3) a high guanine plus cytosine (G+C) content in their deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA).
Growth properties and colonial morphology ( preliminary classification of
mycobacteria).
INTRODUCTION

3. Pathogenic Mycobacterium
M. tuberculosis Complex
◦M. tuberculosis - Common
◦M. leprae - Uncommon
◦M. africanum
◦M. bovis
◦M. ulcerans
All are Strictly Pathogenic

4. Runyon Group I (Slow growing
photochromogens)
◦M. kanasii - Common
◦M. marinum
◦M. simae Uncommon
All are usually pathogenic (not strictly)
Runyon Group II (Slow growing
scotochromogens)
◦M. szulgai
◦M. scrofulaceum Uncommon
◦M. xenopi
Usually pathogenic Sometimes pathogenic
Runyon Group III (Slow growing
nonchromogens)
◦M. avium complex – common
◦M. genavense
◦M. hemophilum uncommon
◦M. malmoense
Strictly pathogenic Usually pathogenic
Runyon Group IV (Rapid growers)
◦M. fortuitum
◦M. chelonae Common
◦M. abscessus
◦M. mucogenicum Uncommon
Sometimes pathogenic

6. Mycobacterium tuberculosis

7. GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
• Gram’s classification – Weak Gram
positive due to the presence of Mycolic
acids, Lipids and Waxes in Cell wall.
• Acid fast bacilli
• Shape – Rod shaped Bacilli
• Motility – Non-Motile
• Capsule - Absent
• Endospores - Absent
• Respiration – Aerobic respiration
• Optimum Temperature - 37 °C
• Optimum pH – 5.4 – 6.5
• Habitat – Found in water and soil.

8. Trehalose Di mycolate (Cord Factor)
Sulfatides
Catalase peroxidase
PATHOGENICITY OF Mycobacterium tuberculosis
DISEASE TRANSMISSION - Person-to-person spread by infectious Air borne
aerosols.
INCUBATION PERIOD - 2 to 6 Weeks
VIRULENCE FACTORS OF Mycobacterium tuberculosis

9. Mycobacteria
⬇
pulmonary alveoli
⬇
replicate within macrophages
⬇
picked up by dendritic cells
⬇
transport to local LN
⬇
spread through bloodstream to other tissues/organs
⬇
secondary TB lesions
primary site of infection : upper part of the lower lobe, or lower part of the upper lobe of lung
secondary TB lesions: apex of the upper lobes , peripheral lymph nodes, kidneys, brain, and bone
Pathogenesis

11. Primary pulmonary tuberculosis occurs in non sensitized hosts.
This may occur in any organ such as lungs, tonsils, intestine or skin
Among children the common site is lungs.
The inhaled bacilli are engulfed by alveolar macrophages in which they multiply to form
initial lesions called GHON FOCI.
Most frequently it occurs in the lower lobe or lower part of the upper lobe.
From here some bacilli are transported to hilar lymph node and causing
lymphadenopathy.
The ghon foci together with the enlarged hilar lymph node forms primary infecton.
In most cases the primary infection is asymptomatic
Occasionally the primary infection may spread through lymph nodes and causes bone &
join tuberculosis, renal tuberculosis, meningeal tuberculosis, endometrial tuberculosis
and testicular tuberculosis.
PRIMARY TUBERCULOSIS

12. This type of infection is mainly caused by reactivation of primary lesions or by bacilli
that are inhaled or ingested from the environment.
It is otherwise known as post primary tuberculosis or adult tuberculosis.
It mostly involves lungs and lesions are produced in the apical region ( apex) of the
lungs and can be transmitted to kidney, meninges, bones and other organs.
Formation of granuloma occurs and the necrotic elements of the reaction cause
destruction of the tissues and large areas of caseation, termed as tuberculomas
The activated macrophages secrete the enzyme protease that causes softening and
liquefaction of necrosis.
the necrosis is entered to the bronchus from the lungs and leaving a cavity (cavity
TBC)  The necrosis then enters to the blood vessels and spreading the bacilli through
out the body.
SECONDARY TUBERCULOSIS

13. Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
Coughing up blood
Chest pain, or pain with breathing or
coughing
Unintentional weight loss
Fatigue
Fever
Night sweats
Chills
Loss of appetite
Signs and symptoms of active TB
include:

14. Laboratory diagnosis of M. tuberculosis:
Specimens:
PTB:- sputum,
Tubercular meningitis:- CSF
Genitourinary TB:- urine.
Others- largyngeal swabs, gastric lavage, pleural fluid, pus sample,
nasopharyngeal aspirates.
MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION
• Acid fast stating (Ziehl - Neelson method) – Red colour Acid fast bacilli
COLONY MORPHOLOGY ON CULTURE MEDIUM
• Lowenstein Jensen (LJ) Medium – Mycobacterium tuberculosis appears as brown,
granular colonies (sometimes called "buff, rough and tough")

15. BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
Catalase test - Negative
Oxidase test – Negative
Urease test – Positive
Indole test - Negative
Methyl Red (MR) test - Negative
Voges Proskauer (VP) test - Negative
Citrate utilization test – Negative
Nitrate reduction – Positive
Niacin test - Positive
Neutral Red test - Positive
Mantoux test is a Tuberculin skin test used for the diagnosis of
TB.
In this test, 0.1 ml or 5 tuberculin units of PPD (purified protein
derivative) is injected intradermally into the volar aspect of the
forearm using a 27-G needle.
PPD should be injected between the layers of the skin and not
subcutaneously. The results is read after 48-72 hours.
IMMUNODIAGNOSIS
Tuberculin Skin Test:
Anti-tuberculosis drugs are divided as-
First line drugs:
Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, Streptomycin (injection) and Pyrazinamide
Second line drugs:
Used for the cases of TB where first line drugs are ineffective.
Includes ciprofloxacin, cycloserine, ethionmide, kanamycin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, capreomycin and
others.
Treatment of tuberculosis:

16. Mycobacterium leprae

17. Gram’s classification – Weak Gram positive due to the presence
of Mycolic acids, Lipids and Waxes in Cell wall. Also called as
Hansen’s Bacillus Spirilly
Acid fast bacilli
Shape – Rod shaped Bacilli. Sometimes Pleomorphic in nature.
Intracellular parasite. Unable to be cultured on artificial media.
Motility – Non-Motile
Capsule - Absent
Endospores - Absent
Respiration – Microaerophilic respiration
Optimum Temperature – 27 °C to 30 °C
Optimum pH – 7.0
Habitat – Found in air, water and soil.
Mycobacterium leprae has a long generation time of about 12
days.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

18. Fibronectin
Secreted Proteins
Early sectreted antigenic 6kDa(ESAT-6)
Culture Filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10)
Phenolic Glycolipid (PGL-1)
Lipoarabinomannan (LAM)
PATHOGENICITY OF Mycobacterium leprae
DISEASE TRANSMISSION: Person to person spread by infectious Air borne
Nasal secretions or Droplets or Aerosols.
INCUBATION PERIOD: Mycobacterium leprae multiplies slowly and the incubation period
of the disease on average is 5 years.
VIRULENCE FACTORS OF Mycobacteriumleprae
1.
2.

19. Mycobacterium leprae enter the body usually through Respiratory system.
Mycobacterium leprae migrate towards the Neural tissue (present in CNS) and enter the
Schwann cells.
After entering the Schwann cells or Macrophage, Mycobacterium leprae start
multiplying slowly within the cells, get liberated from the destroyed cells and enter other
unaffected cells. Person remains free from signs and symptoms of Leprosy at this stage.
As the Mycobacterium leprae multiply, bacterial load increases in the body and infection
is recognized by the immunological system.
Lymphocytes and Histiocytes invade the infected tissue. At this stage clinical
manifestation may appear as involvement of nerves with impairment of sensation or
skin patch.
If it is not diagnosed and treated in the early stages, further progress of the diseases is
determined by the strength of the patient’s Cell mediated immune response.
PATHOGENESIS

20. Granuloma formation occurs in Cutaneous nerve. Cutaneous nerve swell and gets destroyed.
Severe inflammation may result in Caseous necrosis (a unique form of cell death in which the
tissue maintains a cheese-like appearance) within the nerve.
Mycobacterium leprae may escape from nerve to adjacent skin at any time and cause classical
skin lesions.
Good Cell Mediated Immunity successfully limits the disease to the nerve Schwann cell resulting
in occurrence of Tuberculoid Leprosy.
Mycobacterium leprae entering the Schwann cells multiply unchecked and destroy the nerve.
Mycobacterium leprae liberated by infected and destroyed cells are engulfed by Histiocytes
(Tissue Macrophage).
Mycobacterium leprae multiply inside these macrophages and travel to other tissues, through
blood, lymph or tissue fluid.
a)InPersonswithstrongCellMedicatedImmunity(PureneuralleprosyorTuberculoidLeprosy)
b)InpersonswithdepressedCellMedicatedImmunity(MultibacillaryLeprosyorLepromatousLeprosy)

21. Intermediate leprosy
Tuberculoid leprosy
Borderline tuberculoid leprosy
Mid-borderline leprosy
Borderline leprosy
Lepromatous leprosy
Types of Leprosy
There are six types of leprosy and are mainly classified based on
the severity of symptoms

22. Difference between Tuberculoid Leprosy and Lepromatous eprosy

23. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS OF Mycobacterium leprae
Skin Smear
Nasal Smear
Skin and Nerve Biopsy
Specimen:
MICROSCOPY
The slit-skin smears, nasal smears, or smears from other specimen on the slide are stained by Ziehl-
Neelsen technique by using 5% sulfuric acid for decolorization.
ANIMAL CULTURE
Mycobacterium leprae has not yet been successfully cultured in vitro but it can be grown in the
laboratory by injection into the foot pads of mice. It is a slow growing pathogen with the doubling time
of 14 days
LEPROMIN SKIN TEST
An extract of Mycobacterium leprae is injected intradermally and induration is observed 48 hours later
in those whom a cell-mediated immune response against organism exist.
Lepromin skin test elicit two types of reaction:
✓The Fernandez reaction
✓The Mitsuda reaction

24. ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY AND PREVENTION
Tuberculoid form is treated with Rifampicin and Dapsone for 6 months. Clofazimine
is added to this regimen for treatment of the Lepromatous form, and therapy is
extended to a minimum of 12 months.
The preventive and control measures
✓Early diagnosis and treatment
✓Vaccines (BCG Vaccine)
✓Chemoprophylaxis
✓Health education
MOLECULAR ANALYSIS
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
can be used as a means of diagnosis
of leprosy and also as a tool for drug
assessment.
IMMUNODIAGNOSIS
a) Latex Agglutination Test
b) ELISA
c) FLA-ABS (Fluorescent leprosy
antibody absorption test)

25. THANK YOU