Mycobacterium heckeshornense

Mycobacterium heckeshornense is a species of the phylum Actinomycetota (Gram-positive bacteria with high guanine and cytosine content, one of the dominant phyla of all bacteria), belonging to the genus Mycobacterium.

Description
Gram-positive, nonmotile and acid-fast rods. Cells are typically rod-shaped, with some coccoid forms.

Colony characteristics Smooth, yellow scotochromogenic colonies appear after 4 weeks of culture.

Physiology
 * Slowly growing organism, colonies appear after 4 weeks of growth.
 * Able to grow at 37 °C and 45 °C.

Differential characteristics
 * The phylogenetic position of this species is within the cluster defined by M. xenopi and M. botniense.
 * Key differentiating features are negative tests for arylsulfatase and pyrazinamidase and susceptibility to antimycobacterial drugs.

Pathogenesis

 * Seems to be pathogenic in immunocompetent humans.
 * Biosafety level unknown

Type strain
Strain S369 = CCUG 51897 = DSM 44428
 * The type strain was isolated from human lung by bronchoscopy.