Mycobacterium leprae*

A Microbial Biorealm page on the genus Mycobacterium leprae*

Classification

Higher order taxa

Bacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteria; Actinobacteridae; Actinomycetale; Corynebacterineae; Mycobacteriaceae

Species

NCBI: Taxonomy

Mycobacterium leprae

Description and Significance

Child with leprosy (1)

Mycobacterium leprae is named after Doctor Gerhard Armauer Hansen in 1873. Dr. Hansen discovered the bacteria in the nodules of leprosy patients and determined that it was the cause of the leprosy. Leprosy has been recorded as early as 600-400 B.C. Leprosy is found in countries world wide, but it is common in many countries with a tropical or sub-tropical climate such as Angola, Brazil, and India. In the United States, there are approximately 1000 cases reported and diagnosed each year. In 2004, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) there were an average of 150 cases of leprosy, with 69 new cases and 131 wide-spread cases. In 2005 the WHO reported that there were 286,063 new cases of leprosy worldwide. Mycobacterium leprae has two different forms in which it can express itself, Tuberculoid and Lepromatous. The difference between the two is that Tuberculoid is caused by a faster cellular response to the bacterium, causing disfigurement of the skin, sores, peripheral nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. Lepromatous is a slower cellular response large nodules and bumps on the skin. There are medicines today that can treat leprosy and kill the M. leprae. Victims can choose to either take certain medicines as prescribe by the WHO or can get surgery to help prevent further deterioration.

Genome structure

Describe the size and content of the genome. How many chromosomes and plasmids? Circular or linear? Other interesting features? What is known about its sequence?

Cell structure, metabolism & life cycle

Provide a physical and biochemical description of the organism. What kind of organism is it, what does it look like, how is it built, what are its metabolic properties, how can it be identified, what is it's life cycle, &c. In other words, describe the organism from its perspective.

Ecology (including pathogenesis)

Describe its habitat, symbiosis, and contributions to environment. If it is a pathogen, how does this organism cause disease? Human, animal, plant hosts? Describe virulence factors and patient symptoms.

Interesting feature

Describe in detail one particularly interesting aspect of your organism or it's affect on humans or the environment.

References

1) "Leprosy Today." World Health Organization. World Health Organization. 10 Oct 2007

Brennan, J. T. Mycobacteria . In Encyclopedia of Microbiology (pp. 312-327). a.

Drugs.com Drug Information Online. (2007, August 17). October 2, 2007

Kazda, J. (2000). The Ecology of Mycobacteria. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Medline Plus. (2007, September 19). October 1, 2007

Microbiology, T. D. (2007, August 17). Microbiology and Immunology Online. September 29, 2007, from University of South Carolina School of Medicine

Mycobacterium Leprae. (2007, July 21). September 25, 2007

WHO. (2007). September 30, 2007

Edited by the NC State University MB 103 class of 2007.