Mycobacterium confluentis

Mycobacterium confluentis is a non-pathogenic bacterium of the oral cavity.

Description
Gram-positive, nonmotile, acid-fast coccobacillus (0.5-0.8µm x 0.7-1.7µm), does not form spores, capsules or aerial hyphae.

Physiology.
 * Rapid growth within 2 to 4 days on Löwenstein-Jensen media at 22°C, 31°C, 37°C and 41°C (optimum growth between 31°C and 37°C).
 * In vitro susceptibility to isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin.

Differential characteristics.
 * Differentiation from other thermotolerant mycobacteria by its inability to grow at temperatures of more than 41°C.
 * Separation from other rapidly growing mycobacteria by its susceptibility to antituberculotic drugs.
 * Differentiated from the phenotypic closely related M. thermoresistibile by its inability to grow at 52°C.

Pathogenesis
Not associated with disease. Biosafety level 1.

Type Strain
First isolated from sputum, Koblenz, Germany. strain 1389/90 = ATCC 49920 = CIP 105510 = DSM 44017 = JCM 13671.