scanning electron micrograph showing the ultrastructural details seen in the cell wall Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Under a high magnification of 21228x this scanning electron micrograph SEM depicted some of the ultrastructural details seen in the cell wall configuration of a number of Gram positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria As an obligate aerobic organism M tuberculosis can only survive in an environment containing oxygen This bacterium ranges in length between 2 4 m and a width between 0 2 0 5 m In most people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected the body is able to fight the bacteria to stop them from growing The bacteria become inactive but they remain alive in the body and can become active later This is called latent TB infection People with latent TB infection have no symptoms don t feel sick can t spread TB to others usually have a positive skin test reaction can develop active TB disease if they do not receive treatment for latent TB infection Many people who have latent TB infection never develop active TB disease In these people the TB bacteria remain inactive for a lifetime without causing disease But in other people especially people who have weak immune systems the bacteria become active and cause TB disease
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Photo credit: © Scott Camazine / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bacteria, disease, electron, health, illness, medicine, microbiology, micrograph, microscopy, pathogen, sem
