title: Mycobacterium heckeshornense
text: # 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
  
  * The type strain was isolated from human lung by bronchoscopy.
  
  Strain S369 = CCUG 51897 = DSM 44428
  
  