Mycobacterium smegmatis

Mycobacterium smegatis is a bacterium species in the genus Mycobacterium. It was first reported in November 1884 by Lustgarten. He had found a bacillus with the staining appearance of tubercle bacilli in syphilitic chancres. Subsequently, Alvarez and Tavel found organisms similar to that described by Lustgarten as well as in normal genital secretions (smegma). This organisms was in 1953 named Mycobacterium smegmatis. Mycobacterium smegmatis is generally considered a non pathogenic microorganism, however in some cases it can cause disease, mainly in animals.