Mycobacterium conspicuum

Mycobacterium conspicuum

Description
Gram-positive and nonmotile acid-fast coccobacilli. Does not form spores, capsules or aerial hyphae.

Colony characteristics
 * Dysgonic and nonphotochromogenic, pale yellow colonies on Löwenstein-Jensen agar.

Physiology
 * Slow growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at temperatures between 22°C and 31°C after 2-3 weeks.
 * Susceptible to ethambutol, rifampin, streptomycin, resistant to pyrazinamide.
 * Synthesis of α- and keto-mycolates and wax esters.
 * no tolerance to 5% NaCl, positive for Tween 80 hydrolysis and for 10-day-arylsulfatase. Negative for production of nicotinic acid, acetamidase, benzamidase, urease, isonicotinamidase, nicotinamidase, pyrazinamidase, succinidamidase, nitrate reductase and tellurite reduction.

Pathogenesis
Opportunistic pathogen, disseminated mycobacteriosis, Biosafety level 2.

Type Strain
First isolated from two male HIV infected patients in Germany. Strain 3895/92 = ATCC 700090 = CIP 105165 = DSM 44136.