Tuberkuloosibakteerin

Tuberkuloosibakteeri, scientifically known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a species of bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB) in humans and other animals. This bacterium is a slender, rod-shaped bacillus that is aerobic, meaning it requires oxygen to survive and grow. Its cell wall is characterized by a high lipid content, primarily due to the presence of mycolic acids, which makes it resistant to Gram staining and contributes to its survival within host cells.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, releasing microscopic droplets containing the bacteria. These droplets can be inhaled by others, and the bacteria can then establish infection in the lungs. However, not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. The immune system can often contain the infection, leading to a latent TB infection, where the bacteria remain inactive. Only a fraction of latent infections progress to active TB disease, which can be severe and potentially fatal if left untreated.

Diagnosis of TB typically involves a combination of methods, including chest X-rays, sputum microscopy and culture, and skin or blood tests. Treatment for active TB disease requires a course of multiple antibiotics taken for an extended period, usually six months or longer. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, such as multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating ongoing research for new diagnostic tools and treatments.