Mycobacterium

Mycobacterium: A large family of bacteria that have unusually waxy cell walls that are resistant to digestion.

The mycobacteria includes: Mycobacterium avium -- which causes tuberculosis in birds and immunodeficient people; Mycobacterium leprae -- which causes leprosy; Mycobacterium marinum -- which causes swimming pool granuloma; Mycobacterium tuberculosis -- which causes most cases of tuberculosis; and Mycobacterium ulcerans -- which causes Buruli ulcer.

The mycobacteria are acid-fast rod-shaped bacteria. They are usually slow-growing. Many are intracellular parasites.