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Glite Dictionary
Mycobacterium africanum

Mycobacterium africanum

9.8
A type of bacteria found mainly in West Africa that can cause tuberculosis in people
  • noun
  • /maɪˌkoʊbækˈtɪəriəm ˌæfrɪˈkænəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Mycobacterium africanum
  • The laboratory confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium africanum in the patient's lung tissue.

Examples

  • Scientists discovered that Mycobacterium africanum is responsible for many tuberculosis cases in West Africa.

  • Public health officials are monitoring the spread of Mycobacterium africanum in several African countries.

  • The Mycobacterium africanum strain is prevalent in certain regions of West Africa.

  • Researchers are studying the effects of Mycobacterium africanum on public health.

  • Scientists discovered that Mycobacterium africanum is responsible for many tuberculosis cases in West Africa.

  • The laboratory confirmed the presence of Mycobacterium africanum in the patient's lung tissue.

  • Public health officials are monitoring the spread of Mycobacterium africanum in several African countries.

Surface Forms

Mycobacterium africanum singular
Mycobacterium africanum plural

Morphology

mycobacterium + africanum

The binomial name combines 'Mycobacterium' (a genus of bacteria) with the Latin adjectival form 'africanum' meaning 'of Africa' or 'African', so the sense 'a Mycobacterium from Africa' is directly derivable from the constituents. Taxonomic Latin naming is compositional and cross-linguistically regular, so a learner who knows both parts can infer this species-level meaning (and its association with tuberculosis as given).

Etymology

Mycobacterium africanum may come from the word parts myco (meaning 'fungus-like') and africanum ('from Africa'), so the name makes you picture a fungus-like bacterium found in Africa. That's why the name refers to a species of bacteria that can cause 'tuberculosis' in people.