mycobacterium tuberculosis

3 definitions found

mycobacterium tuberculosis - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Tubercle \Tu"ber*cle\, n. [L. tuberculum, dim. of tuber: cf. F.
     tubercule, OF. also tubercle. See Tuber.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A small knoblike prominence or excrescence, whether
        natural or morbid; as, a tubercle on a plant; a tubercle
        on a bone; the tubercles appearing on the body in leprosy.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Med.) A small mass or aggregation of morbid matter;
        especially, the deposit which accompanies scrofula or
        phthisis. This is composed of a hard, grayish, or
        yellowish, translucent or opaque matter, which gradually
        softens, and excites suppuration in its vicinity. It is
        most frequently found in the lungs, causing consumption.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Tubercle bacillus (Med.), a minute vegetable organism
        (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, formerly Bacillus  tuberculosis
        , and also called Koch's bacillus)
        discovered by Koch, a German physician, in the sputum of
        consumptive patients and in tuberculous tissue. It is the
        causative agent of tuberculosis.
        [1913 Webster +PJC]

  Tuberculosis \Tu*ber`cu*lo"sis\, n. [NL. See Tubercle.] (Med.)
     A constitutional disease caused by infection with
     Mycobacterium tuberculosis (also called the Tubercle bacillus
     ), characterized by the production of tubercles in
     the internal organs, and especially in the lungs, where it
     constitutes the most common variety of pulmonary phthisis
     (consumption). The Mycobacteria are slow-growing and without
     cell walls, and are thus not affected by the beta-lactam
     antibiotics; treatment is difficult, usually requiring
     simultaneous administration of multiple antibiotics to effect
     a cure. Prior to availability of antibiotic treatment, the
     cure required extensive rest, for which special sanatoriums
     were constructed.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

mycobacterium tuberculosis - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  Mycobacterium tuberculosis
      n 1: cause of tuberculosis [syn: tubercle bacillus,
           Mycobacterium tuberculosis]