Query: NC_016948:1696000 Mycobacterium intracellulare MOTT-64 chromosome, complete genome
Lineage: Mycobacterium intracellulare; Mycobacterium; Mycobacteriaceae; Actinomycetales; Actinobacteria; Bacteria
General Information: Like other closely related Actinomycetales, such as Nocardia and Corynebacterium, Mycobacteria have unusually high genomic DNA GC content and are capable of producing mycolic acids as major components of their cell wall. Mycobacterium intracellulare is a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). These organisms cause tuberculosis in birds, and pulmonary and disseminated infections in immunocompromized humans. Mycobacterium intracellulare is also an important contributor to MAC-associated pulmonary infections in immunocompetent patients. Infection results in a characteristic pulmonary disease which requires expensive drug therapy for successful treatment. Mycobacterium intracellulare can also be isolated from the environment and, like other environmental organisms, is able to form and survive in biofilms.