title: Mycobacterium interjectum
text: # Mycobacterium interjectum
  
  Mycobacterium interjectum 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.
  
  ## Name
  
  Etymology: Phylogenetic position between (Latin: interjectum) rapidly and slowly growing mycobacteria.
  
  ## Description
  
  Mycobacterium interjectum is Gram-positive, nonmotile and acid-fast rods (0.6-1.0 µm x 0.7-2.0 µm). Filaments (up to 6.0 µm) possible.
  
  ### Colony characteristics
  
  Dysgonic, smooth and scotochromogenic colonies (1–2 mm in diameter).
  
  ### Physiology
  
  * Slow growth on Löwenstein-Jensen medium at temperatures between 31°C and 37 °C within 3–4 weeks.
  * Susceptible to rifampicin.
  * Resistant to isoniazid and ethambutol.
  
  Differential characteristics
  
  * Most closely related to M. simiae.
  * Phylogenetic position between rapidly and slowly growing mycobacteria.
  
  ## Pathogenesis
  
  * Chronic lymphadenitis
  * Biosafety level 2
  
  ## Type strain
  
  * First isolated from a lymph node of a child with chronic lymphadenitis in Germany.
  
  Strain 4185/92 = ATCC 51457 = CCUG 37514 = DSM 44064
  
  