Table of Contents
Is Mycobacterium tuberculosis an infectious disease?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from person to person through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes.
What is another name for Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
M. tuberculosis, then known as the “tubercle bacillus”, was first described on 24 March 1882 by Robert Koch, who subsequently received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this discovery in 1905; the bacterium is also known as “Koch’s bacillus”.
What type of infection causes tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a type of bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It’s spread when a person with active TB disease in their lungs coughs or sneezes and someone else inhales the expelled droplets, which contain TB bacteria.
Why is it called consumption?
TB was commonly called “consumption” in the 1800s even after Schonlein named it tuberculosis. During this time, TB was also called the “Captain of all these men of death.” During the Middle Ages, TB of the neck and lymph nodes was called “scofula.” Scofula was believed to be a different disease from TB in the lungs.
Which is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis ( TB )?
TB is an airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) (Figure 2.1). M. tuberculosis and seven very closely related mycobacterial species (M. bovis,
Which is part of the body does TB attack?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain. Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick. As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent TB infection (LTBI) and TB disease.
How is Mycobacterium tuberculosis studied in tissue culture?
M. tuberculosis virulence is studied both in tissue culture, mainly using macrophages and more recently dendritic cells (31, 126, 145) and pneumocytes (24, 28), and in animal models. While tissue culture models are easier to work with and give faster results, they are limited to the early stages of infection.
How is tuberculosis spread from person to person?
Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that most often affect the lungs. Tuberculosis is curable and preventable. TB is spread from person to person through the air.