What are three facts about tuberculosis?
Here are 5 fast facts you may not know about the disease:
- One-third of the world’s population is infected with TB.
- Almost 10 million people around the world became sick with TB in 2014.
- In the same year there were 1.5 million TB-related deaths.
- TB is a leading killer of people who have HIV.
What is unique about Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium Tuberculosis H37Rv (MTB) which is a unique acid fast gram positive bacterium. It is unique because of its high lipid and mycolic acid content of its cell wall. It neither contains phospholipid outer membrane nor retains dye.
What are some fun facts about tuberculosis?
About one quarter of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB) bacteria. Only a small proportion of those infected will become sick with TB. People with weakened immune systems have a much greater risk of falling ill from TB. A person living with HIV is about 20 times more likely to develop active TB.
How does Mycobacterium tuberculosis cause disease?
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.
Where does TB bacteria come from?
Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through microscopic droplets released into the air. This can happen when someone with the untreated, active form of tuberculosis coughs, speaks, sneezes, spits, laughs or sings.
Where does Mycobacterium tuberculosis come from?
The origin of M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB, has been the subject of much recent investigation, and it is thought that the bacteria in the genus Mycobacterium, like other actimomycetes, were initially found in soil and that some species evolved to live in mammals.
How long does Mycobacterium tuberculosis live?
Once coughed out by a person with TB, the bacilli can survive up to six months outside the body if they are protected from direct sunlight. Often they settle in dusty, dark areas.
What is unique to Mycobacterium?
The mycobacterial envelope is unique, containing the so-called mycomembrane (MM) composed of very-long chain fatty acids, mycolic acids (MA).
Where is Mycobacterium tuberculosis found in the body?
Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne bacterial infection caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis that primarily affects the lungs, although other organs and tissues may be involved.
Who invented TB bacteria?
On March 24, 1882, Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB).