Mycobacteriaceae

Mycobacteriaceae is a family of Actinobacteria, given its own order, Mycobacteriales. The most significant genus in this family is Mycobacterium, which includes species responsible for diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy.

Taxonomy

The family Mycobacteriaceae consists of a single genus, Mycobacterium. This genus contains numerous species, some of which are pathogenic to humans and animals. The most well-known species are Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, which cause tuberculosis and leprosy, respectively.

Characteristics

Members of the Mycobacteriaceae family are typically rod-shaped, and they are known for their high guanine and cytosine content in their DNA. The bacteria in this family are Gram-positive, but due to the presence of mycolic acid in their cell walls, they do not take up the crystal violet stain used in the Gram stain procedure, and are therefore often classified as acid-fast.

Pathogenesis

The pathogenic species within the Mycobacteriaceae family cause a variety of diseases in humans. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is responsible for tuberculosis, a disease that primarily affects the lungs. Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy, a disease that affects the skin and nerves.

Treatment

Treatment of diseases caused by Mycobacteriaceae involves prolonged courses of multiple antibiotics. The choice of antibiotics is guided by susceptibility testing, as many species of Mycobacteriaceae are resistant to certain antibiotics.

See also

• List of bacterial families
• Mycobacterium
• Tuberculosis
• Leprosy