Mycobacterium smegmatis

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of aerobic, Gram-positive, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria. This species is acid-fast, grows on MacConkey's agar, is iron uptake and nitrite reduction positive, and 3 day arylsulfatase negative. M. smegmatis was originally isolated from the human genitourinary tract, is also found in soil and water, and causes human post-traumatic wound infections and lung infections.

**Synonyms:** - MYCOBACTERIUM SMEGMATIS