mycobacterium
Meaning
A genus of bacteria characterized by a waxy coating on their cell walls, making them resistant to many antibiotics and stains. Some species are pathogenic, causing diseases such as tuberculosis and leprosy.
Structure
Usage
Tuberculosis is caused by the mycobacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
The waxy cell wall of a mycobacterium makes it difficult to treat with standard antibiotics.
Laboratory diagnosis often involves staining techniques specifically designed to detect acid-fast mycobacteria.
Etymology
The term 'mycobacterium' is a modern scientific Latin construction, literally meaning "fungus-bacterium". This name was coined in the late 19th century due to the mold-like, filamentous growth pattern some species exhibit on culture media, which resembled fungal growth, despite the organisms being true bacteria. The Greek root 'mykēs' (fungus) was combined with the Neo-Latin 'bacterium', itself from the Greek 'baktērion' (a small rod), describing the rod-like shape of these microbes. Thus, the word's logic captures the initial observational characteristic (fungus-like appearance) of a biologically distinct group of rod-shaped bacteria.
Analysis
- myco: From Greek 'mykēs', meaning "fungus" or "mushroom". In this word, it functions as a combining form indicating a relationship to fungi. - bacterium: From Greek 'baktērion', a diminutive of 'baktron' meaning "rod" or "staff". It functions as the base noun denoting a type of microorganism.