Mycobacterium lepromatosis
Encyclopedia
Mycobacterium lepromatosis is a bacterium that, along with Mycobacterium leprae
, causes leprosy
(Hansen's disease). It was only recently discovered, in 2008. Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene
confirms that the species is distinct from Mycobacterium leprae.
M.lepromatosis is an Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) which causes diffuse Lepromatous leprosy (DLL). DLL is mainly found in Mexico and the Caribbean. DLL is a severe form of leprosy which manifests through nerve invasion and extensive skin ulcerations due to massive AFB burden in internal organs. M.lepromatosis, like M.leprae, has not been cultured in the laboratory because they both lack genes necessary to grow outside of their hosts. These genes are believed by scientist to have been lost through reductive evolution.
Mycobacterium leprae
Mycobacterium leprae, also known as Hansen’s coccus spirilly, mostly found in warm tropical countries, is a bacterium that causes leprosy . It is an intracellular, pleomorphic, acid-fast bacterium. M. leprae is an aerobic bacillus surrounded by the characteristic waxy coating unique to mycobacteria...
, causes leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
(Hansen's disease). It was only recently discovered, in 2008. Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
confirms that the species is distinct from Mycobacterium leprae.
M.lepromatosis is an Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) which causes diffuse Lepromatous leprosy (DLL). DLL is mainly found in Mexico and the Caribbean. DLL is a severe form of leprosy which manifests through nerve invasion and extensive skin ulcerations due to massive AFB burden in internal organs. M.lepromatosis, like M.leprae, has not been cultured in the laboratory because they both lack genes necessary to grow outside of their hosts. These genes are believed by scientist to have been lost through reductive evolution.