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History
M. tuberculosis (MTB) was the cause of the "White Plague" of the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe. During this period nearly 100 percent of the European population was infected with MTB, and 25 percent of all adult deaths were caused by MTB

M. tuberculosis, then known as the "tubercle bacillus", was first described on 24 March 1882 by Robert Koch who subsequently received the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for this discovery in 1905; the bacterium is also known as "Koch's bacillus".

Tuberculosis has existed throughout history, but the name has changed frequently over time, consumption, phtisis, white plague

General information
MTB is an obligate aerobe.

For this reason, in the classic case of tuberculosis, are always found in the well-aerated upper lobes of the lungs.

The bacterium is a facultative intracellular parasite, usually of macrophages, and has a slow generation time, 15-20 hours, (a physiological characteristic that may contribute to its virulence), compared to other bacteria, which tend to have division times measured in minutes (Escherichia coli can divide roughly every 20 minutes).

It is a small bacillus that can withstand weak desinfectants and can survive in a dry state for weeks.

Its unusual cell wall, rich in lipids (e.g. mycolic acid), is likely responsible for this resistance and is a key virulence factor

Taxonomy
Family: Mycobacteriaceae

Natural habitats
MTB is the etiologic agent of tuberculosis in humans.

Humans are the only reservoir for the bacterium.

Clinical significance
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in the world from a bacterial infectious disease.

The disease affects 1.8 billion people/year which is equal to one-third of the entire world population.

Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but TB bacteria can attack any part of the body such as the kidney, spine, and brain.

If not treated properly, TB can be fatal.

TB is spread through the air from one person to another.

The TB bacteria are put into the air when a person with TB of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. People nearby may breathe in these bacteria and become infected.

TB is NOT spread by
- shaking someone’s hand
- sharing food or drink
- touching bed linens or toilet seats
- sharing toothbrushes
- kissing

Not everyone infected with TB becomes sick.

As a result, two TB-related conditions exist: latent Tuberculosis and Tuberculosis

Latent Tuberculosis Infection
TB bacteria can live in the body without making you sick.
This is called latent TB infection.
In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected, the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing.
People with latent TB infection do not feel sick and do not have any symptoms.
People with latent TB infection are not infectious and cannot spread TB bacteria to others.
However, if TB bacteria become active in the body and multiply, the person will go from having latent TB infection to being sick with TB disease. source: CDC

Tuberculosis
TB bacteria become active if the immune system can't stop them from growing.

When TB bacteria are active (multiplying in your body), this is called tuberculosis.

People with tuberculosis are sick. They may also be able to spread the bacteria to people they spend time with every day.

Many people who have latent TB infection never develop TB.
Some people develop TB soon after becoming infected (within weeks) before their immune system can fight the TB bacteria.

Other people may get sick years later when their immune system becomes weak for another reason. For people whose immune systems are weak, especially those with HIV infection, the risk of developing TB is much higher than for people with normal immune systems M. tuberculosis contain complex waxes & cord factor they prevent destruction by lysosomes and macrophages source: CDC