Mycobacterium lepromatosis

Mycobacterium lepromatosis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Actinobacteria
Order: Actinomycetales
Suborder: Corynebacterineae
Family: Mycobacteriaceae
Genus: Mycobacterium
Species: M. lepromatosis
Binomial name
Mycobacterium lepromatosis

Mycobacterium lepromatosis is a bacterium that, along with Mycobacterium leprae, causes leprosy (Hansen's disease). It was only recently discovered, in 2008.[1] Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene confirms that the species is distinct from Mycobacterium leprae.[2]

M. lepromatosis is an acid-fast bacillus (AFB) which causes diffuse lepromatous leprosy (DLL).[3] DLL is mainly found in Mexico and the Caribbean.[4] DLL is a severe form of leprosy which manifests through nerve invasion and extensive skin ulcerations due to massive AFB burden in internal organs.[5] M. lepromatosis, like M. leprae, has not been cultured in the laboratory because they both lack genes necessary to grow outside of their hosts. These genes are believed by scientists to have been lost through reductive evolution.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Han, X. Y., Seo, Y. H., Sizer, K. C., Schoberle, T., May, G. S., Spencer, J. S., Li, W., Nair, R. G. "A new Mycobacterium species causing diffuse lepromatous leprosy". Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 2008 Dec;130(6):856-64.
  2. ↑ Han, X. Y., Sizer, K. C., Thompson, E. J., Kabanja, J., Li, J., Hu, P., Gómez-Valero, L., Silva, F. J. "Comparative sequence analysis of Mycobacterium leprae and the new leprosy-causing Mycobacterium lepromatosis". J. Bacteriol. 2009 Jul 24.
  3. ↑ Xiang Y. Han, Yiel-Hea Seo, Kurt C. Sizer, Taylor Schoberle, Gregory S. May, John S. Spencer, Wei Li, and R. Geetha Nair “A New Mycobacterium Species Causing Diffuse Lepromatous Leprosy.” American Journal of Clinical Pathology. AJCP 2008 130:856-864. http://ajcp.ascpjournals.org 15 Nov. 2011.
  4. ↑ http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1104977-overview
  5. ↑ Xiang Y. Han, Yiel-Hea Seo, Kurt C. Sizer, Taylor Schoberle, Gregory S. May, John S. Spencer, Wei Li, and R. Geetha Nair “A New Mycobacterium Species Causing Diffuse Lepromatous Leprosy.” American Journal of Clinical Pathology. AJCP 2008 130:856-864. http://ajcp.ascpjournals.org 15 Nov. 2011.
  6. ↑ New bacterium just as deadly". USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education). FindArticles.com. 15 Nov, 2011. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2765_137/ai_n31371071/ 15 Nov. 2011