Overview: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a bacterial pathogen and the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest and deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. It primarily affects the lungs but can also infect other organs such as the brain, lymph nodes and bones.

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Transmission: Airborne – The infection spreads when a person with active TB releases aerosolized droplets containing Mtb during coughing, speaking or sneezing.

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Disease: The bacterium infects macrophages in the lungs and can lead to the formation of granulomas, which are organized immune cell structures attempting to contain the infection. Symptoms of active tuberculosis include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, fatigue and weight loss. Tuberculosis remains a major global health burden. Approximately 10–11 million people develop TB each year, leading to around 1.3 million deaths annually worldwide.

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Risk group: Mtb is classified as Risk Group 3 (RG3). Work with viable cultures requires BSL-3 containment due to aerosol transmission risk.

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​​​​Imaging sites within Germany:

Heidelberg University Medical Faculty - CIID/ IDIP

Leibniz Institut for Virology Hamburg 

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​Additional resources: 

(Work in progress)