Mycobacterium psychrotolerans
# Mycobacterium psychrotolerans

Mycobacterium psychrotolerans is a rapidly growing mycobacterium first isolated from pond water near a uranium mine in Spain. It was able to grow at 4°C and is therefore considered to be psychrotolerant. Etymology: psychros, cold; tolerans, tolerating.

## Description

Microscopy

* Gram-positive, acid-fast, non-spore-forming, non-motile short rods.

Colony characteristics

* Smooth, entire, bright orange, scotochromogenic colonies appear after 2 days in GYEA, Bennett's and nutrient agars.

Physiology

* Growth on Lowenstein–Jensen agar is moderate.
* No growth occurs on MacConkey agar.
* Grows at 4–37C and tolerates 7% NaCl.
* The type strain is resistant to ampicillin, cefuroxime, cloxacillin, erythromycin, penicillin and polymyxin. Sensitive to ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, neomycin and oxytetracycline.

Differential characteristics

* Growth at 4°C.

## Pathogenesis

* First isolated from an environmental source, not known to be pathogenic.

## Type strain

* The type strain was isolated from a pond in Salamanca, Spain.
* Strain WA101 = DSM 44697 = JCM 13323 = LMG 21953
