Mycobacterium leprae
Armadillo-carried acid-fast bacterium
Mycobacterium leprae is the bacterium that causes leprosy (Hansen's disease), a chronic infection affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes.
The organism grows extremely slowly and cannot be cultured in laboratory media, only in living tissue.
M. leprae was one of the first bacteria identified as causing human disease.
- Hansen's diseaseBacterial infection affecting nerves
- bacillusCylindrical bacterial cell
- leper coloniesIsolated communities for diseased outcasts
- stigmaMark of dishonor
- antibioticsBacteria-destroying medicines
Damien · armadillo · endemic diseases · Actinobacteria · skin lesions · nerve damage · chronic infections · social ostracism · fingers · numbness · unclean · colony · toes · chronic · isolation · disfigurement · bandages · skin
- Pathogenspathogen, germ, germs, bacteria, bacterium
- Mycobacteriamycobacteria, mycobacterium, MAC, TB, tuberculosis
pathogenic vs beneficial microorganisms
Mycobacterium lepraeLactobacillus
Lactic acid-producing bacterial genus
disease-causing vs health-promoting entities
Mycobacterium lepraeantibiotic
Bacteria-killing medication