ISSN: 2161-1068
Mallika Lavania, Ravindra P Turankar, Itu Singh, Astha Nigam and Utpal Sengupta
Introduction: Mycobacterium gilvum is a fast grower with smooth growth having pale yellow colour. This strain was first isolated from the sediment of the Grand Calumet River in North-western Indiana based on its ability to utilize pyrene, a toxic polycyclic hydrocarbon, as a growth substrate.
Methods: The identification and characterization of this isolate was done by various conventional and molecular tests including 16S rDNA sequencing. Sequencing of the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene revealed a unique organism M.glivum, distantly related to M.vaccae group. Blast results showed similarity of these sequences with M.gilvum.
Conclusion: Results might shed further light and its association with amoeba in the leprosy endemic area of this rare Mycobacterium species.