Mycobacterium asiaticum is a slowly growing photochromogenic mycobacterium first isolated from monkeys in 1965. M. asiaticum can, but rarely, causes human pulmonary disease.
Description
Microscopy
- Gram-positive, nonmotile, acid-fast, coccoid rods.
Colony characteristics
- Dysgonic and yellow photochromogenic (pigment not produced in the dark) colonies.
Physiology
Differential characteristics
- Unique 16S rRNA sequence.
- Biochemically M. asiaticum (photochromogenic) and Mycobacterium gordonae (scotochromogenic) can only be differentiated by the mode of pigmentation.
Pathogenesis
- Rarely causes human pulmonary disease.
Type strain
- First isolated from monkeys in 1965.
- Strain ATCC 25276 = CCUG 29115 = CIP 106809 = DSM 44297 = JCM 6409.
References
External links