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mycobacteria

[ mahy-koh-bak-teer-ee-uh ]

plural noun

, Bacteriology.
, singular my·co·bac·te·ri·um [mahy-koh-bak-, teer, -ee-, uh, m].
  1. rod-shaped aerobic bacteria of the genus Mycobacterium, certain species of which, as M. tuberculosis, are pathogenic for humans and animals.


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Other Words From

  • my·co·bac·te·ri·al noun adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of mycobacteria1

First recorded in 1905–10; from New Latin, a genus name; myco-, bacteria
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Example Sentences

In the new proof of principle study, the researchers took a biological approach instead of a chemical one to develop a cocktail of enzymes that attack the cell envelope of mycobacteria.

Among these, nontuberculous mycobacteria infections are notorious for their stubborn resistance to conventional medication and their penchant for afflicting those with existing lung diseases such as bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.

And other infectious agents, including legionella and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria, reside beyond the reaches of the treatment plant – finding hospitable environments in the pipes that distribute water to and within hospitals, hotels, homes and other buildings.

Recent studies attributed the deaths to outbreaks of a parasite and mycobacteria.

The researchers are finding, for instance, that the more a water supply is treated with chemicals designed to kill microbes, the greater the abundance of pathogenic strains of mycobacteria.

From Nature

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myco-mycobacterium