What is Mycobacterium leprae?
{{italictitle}} {{Taxobox | name = ''Mycobacterium leprae'' | image = Mycobacterium_leprae.jpeg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = Microphotograph of ''Mycobacterium leprae'' taken from a skin lesion | regnum = [[Bacterium|Bacteria]] | phylum = [[Actinobacteria]] | ordo = [[Actinomycetales]] | subordo = [[Corynebacterineae]] | familia = [[Mycobacterium|Mycobacteriaceae]] | genus = ''[[Mycobacterium]]'' | binomial = ''Mycobacterium leprae'' | binomial_authority = [[Gerhard Armauer Hansen|Hansen]], 1874}} '''''Mycobacterium leprae''''' is a [[bacteria]]. It causes the disease, [[leprosy]], also known as the Hanson's Disease. ==Discovery== The bacterium was [[Discovery|discovered]] in 1873 by a [[Norway|Norwegian]] [[Physician|doctor]] named [[Gerhard Armauer Hansen]]. ''M. leprae'' is a [[gram-positive]], aerobic rod surrounded by the characteristic waxy coating unique to [[Mycobacteria]]. ==Features== In [[size]] and [[shape]], it closely resembles [[Mycobacterium tuberculosis|M. tuberculosis]]. Due to its thick, waxy coating, stains with carbol-fuchsin are used, rather than with the [[Custom|traditional]] [[Gram staining]] [[Scientific method|method]]. {{-}} {{biology-stub}} [[Category:Gram-positive bacteria]]