Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Term Paper

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Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a potentially deadly bacterium that can come into contact with humans and create an unpleasant scenario. Because of the potential danger that this bacterium holds, numerous diagnostic tests exist that will help to accurately identify this particular strand. The first test that is done on an unidentified bacterium is the Gram Stain. This stain allows for the determination of whether the bacterium that is being tested is either gram-positive or gram-negative (Murray and Baron, 544). This is important as almost all of the bacteria in the world fall into these two categories.

The difference between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria is in the composition of the bacterial wall. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick peptidoglycan layer that is made up of polysaccharides; however, gram-negative bacteria have a thinner peptidoglycan layer, but it has an extra lipid layer surrounding the outside of its cell wall (Brooks et al., 232). This difference is pertinent for deducing the type of bacterium that is being tested. The gram stain also allows for the determination of morphology and size. In the case of M. tuberculosis, it is neither gram-negative nor gram-positive, and are bacilli or rod-shaped (Murray and Baron, 544). Because of an inconclusive gram test, subsequent diagnostic testing is necessary to identify this bacterium.

The acid-fast stain is conducted on bacteria that do not fall into a gram-positive or a gram-negative category. Very few bacteria will actually test positive for the acid-fast test, but those that do are essentially extremely dangerous. When a bacterium does not take up the dyes used in the gram stain, then that is the first indication that further acid-fast testing needs to be done in order to confirm the identity of the particular bacteria (Schaechter et al., 257). An acid-fact test uses stronger acids and detergents to break down the bacterial wall in order to allow for the penetration of the dyes. Mycobacterium tuberculosis tests positive for the acid-fast test. This means that their cell wall is composed of a waxy acid, mostly mycolic acid that prevents that penetration of many substances (Brooks et al., 233). However, the acid stain will be able to successfully stain the bacterium for further identification.

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Endospore stains are used to identify bacteria that are able to sustain themselves without nutrients for large amounts of time. These bacteria include lethal microorganisms such as Bacillus anthracis. Endospores are genetically identical bacterial structures that develop asexually when the bacterium is preparing for times of residing in a high stress environment (Murray and Baron, 543). A piece of the bacteria pinches off, allowing for the species to maintain an identical copy in order to prevent the bacterium from being extinguished. However, endospore activity is not found in M. tuberculosis and tests negative for this particular test, leading into further and proper identification (Murray and Baron, 575).

Another diagnostic test that is routinely done in order to attain the possible identification of unknown bacterium is the urease test. Once a Mycobacterium genus has been identified, in order to further categorize it into its appropriate species, a urease test can be conducted. A urease test is used to determine whether a bacterium produces the enzyme to break down urea into carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia (Murray and Baron, 575). This will be visible through a change in pH color once the acidic urea is turned into an alkaline substance with the urease. If there is no growth in the medium, then the test will be negative. In the case of M. tuberculosis, the urease test is negative therefore no production of urease is detected (Murray and Baron, 578)

An oxygen sensitivity diagnostic test can also be performed in order to determine whether Mycobacterium tuberculosis is able to thrive in environments with insufficient or over-sufficient amounts of oxygen. Mycobacterium are obligate aerobes, which means that they require the presence of atmospheric oxygen for successful growth and requires oxygen as the final hydrogen or electron acceptor to finalize the degradation of energy….....

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