Mycobacterium Bovis

                                                                 Mycobacteriun     

Mycobacterium Bovis

1890s, bacteriologists such as Theobald Smith studied tubercle bacilli from cattle and humans.

In 1898, Smith demonstrated important differences between human and bovine strains (growth rate, virulence, host specificity).

This led to M. bovis being recognized as a distinct member of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC).

Mycobacterium Bovis To BCG Vaccine 

• M. bovis plays a central role in TB vaccination history.

• In 1908, Albert Calmette and Camille Guérin began attenuating M. bovis through serial subculturing.

• After 230 passages over 13 years, the organism lost virulence.

• In 1921, the BCG vaccine (Bacille Calmette–Guérin)—an attenuated strain of M. bovis—was administered to humans for the first time.

• BCG remains the world’s only TB vaccine.

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