H37Rv

H37Rv is a virulent laboratory strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that has served as a standard reference strain in tuberculosis research for decades. It is derived from the H37 lineage, with H37Rv representing the virulent derivative, while a closely related variant called H37Ra is the attenuated, avirulent form used in some vaccine studies. The designation H37Rv has become a canonical reference in many laboratories for phenotypic and molecular studies of the tuberculosis bacterium.

Genome and characteristics: The complete genome of H37Rv was published in 1998 and has since served as the reference sequence for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The genome is about 4.4 million base pairs and encodes roughly 4,000 genes, including protein-coding genes, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, and regulatory RNAs. This reference genome underpins comparative genomics, mutation analysis, and identification of drug targets and resistance mechanisms.

Research applications and containment: H37Rv is widely used in drug susceptibility testing, vaccine research, pathogenesis studies, and investigations into gene regulation and metabolism. Because it remains virulent in humans, handling and experimentation with H37Rv require appropriate biosafety level 3 containment, institutional approvals, and trained personnel. Its role as a reference strain has made it central to developing diagnostics, studying host–pathogen interactions, and validating experimental methods.

Availability: The strain is distributed by major culture collections and research institutions under proper biosafety provisions, enabling researchers to conduct standardized experiments and comparative studies.