Mycobacterium ulcerans

Mycobacterium ulcerans is the causative agent of Buruli ulcer, a tropical skin disease of humans, and representatives of the group of atypical mycobacteria ( MOTT ).

Morphology and classification

Mycobacterium ulcerans is a gram-positive, acid-fast, slow-growing rods. Within the group of atypical mycobacteria M. ulcerans is counted as not photochromogenen species, that is, that after light exposure of him no pigments are formed.

Habitat

Mycobacterium ulcerans is probably in humid regions of tropical and subtropical latitudes of Africa on Latin America and Asia to Australia before, probably represent standing water represents a habitat

Pathogenicity

A formed by the bacterium toxin Mycolakton acts gewebszerstörend and also inhibits the immune response. This is the basis damaging effect on the infected organism. The caused of Mycobacterium ulcerans disease is the Buruli ulcer, an ulcer forming ( ulcerative ) infection of the skin and underlying tissue.

Further Reading

• Hong H, Coutanceau E, Leclerc M, L Caleechurn, Leadlay PF, Demangel C: mycolactones diffuse from Mycobacterium ulcerans -infected tissues and targets mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and lymphoid organs. In: PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2, No. 10, 2008, pp. e325. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000325. PMID 18941518 PMC: . 2565835 (Free full text ).