Mycobacterium flavescens

Mycobacterium flavescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Actinobacteria
Order:	Actinomycetales
Suborder:	Corynebacterineae
Family:	Mycobacteriaceae
Genus:	Mycobacterium
Species:	M. flavescens
Binomial name
Mycobacterium flavescens Bojalil et al. 1962, ATCC 14474

Mycobacterium flavescens is a species of the phylum actinobacteria (Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content, one of the dominant phyla of all bacteria), belonging to the genus mycobacterium.

Etymology: Latin, flavescens = becoming golden yellow.

Description

Gram-positive, nonmotile and acid-fast rods.

Colony characteristics

• Soft, yellow-orange scotochromogenic, butyrous colonies.

Physiology

• Slow growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at 25-37°C, but not at 45 °C within 7–10 days.
• Although growth rate is intermediate, metabolic and physiologic properties are more like rapidly growing species.

Differential characteristics

• Serologic specificity demonstrated by immunodiffusion.
• Related to Mycobacterium fortuitum: can be distinguished by its intense pigment production, and its slow rate of growth.

Pathogenesis

Not associated with disease. Biosafety level 2.

Type strain

• Normal human flora, environmental habitat.
• First isolated from a drug treated tuberculous guinea pig (Mexico).

Strain ATCC 14474 = CCUG 29041 = CIP 104533 = DSM 43991 = JCM 12274 = NCTC 10271 = NRRL B-4038.

References

• Bojalil et al. 1962. Adansonian classification of mycobacteria. Journal of General Microbiology, 28, 333-346.]