Mycobacterium massiliense

Mycobacterium massiliense is a rapidly growing Mycobacteria species sharing an identical 16S rRNA sequence with Mycobacterium abscessus. Etymology: massiliense, pertaining to Massilia, the Latin name of Marseille, France where the organism was isolated.

Description
Strictly aerobic, nonmotile, non-spore forming, acid-fast, Gram-positive rods.

Colony characteristics
 * The colonies are nonphotochromogenic and intermediate between smooth and rough.

Physiology
 * Growth occurs between 2 and 4 days on 5% sheep blood agar, Middlebrook 7H10 agar, and LJ slants at between at 24 and 37 °C; no growth is observed at 42 and 45 °C.

Differential Characteristics
 * Differentiated from Mycobacterium abscessus by hsp65 sequence (5bp difference)

Type Strain
Strain CCUG 48898 = CIP 108297.
 * The type strain was isolated from the sputum of a patient with hemoptoic pneumonia.