What are the special features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis?

Microbiological characteristics Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a nonmotile, acid-fast, obligate aerobe. The bacilli are 2-4 um in length and have a very slow generation time of between 15 and 20 hours. The cell wall of the mycobacterium is unique in that it is composed mainly of acidic waxes, specifically mycolic acids.Click to see full answer. Beside this, what is unique about the cell wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis?The cell wall structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis deserves special attention because it is unique among procaryotes, and it is a major determinant of virulence for the bacterium. The cell wall complex contains peptidoglycan, but otherwise it is composed of complex lipids.Also Know, what is unique about tuberculosis? Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. Also to know is, what is unique to Mycobacterium? The distinguishing characteristic of all Mycobacterium species is that the cell wall is thicker than in many other bacteria, being hydrophobic, waxy, and rich in mycolic acids/mycolates. The biosynthetic pathways of cell wall components are potential targets for new drugs for tuberculosis.What does Mycobacterium tuberculosis look like?A few years later it was discovered that the cause for leprosy resembles this tubercle bacillus, and the two of them were categorised together into a group called Mycobacterium. The purple rod-shaped organism is a TB bacterium. The bacillus that is responsible for tuberculosis is called Mycobacterium tuberculosis.