The bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) is

The bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) is Mycobacterium. The specific species responsible for TB is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This bacterium primarily affects the lungs, causing pulmonary tuberculosis, but it can also affect other parts of the body in extrapulmonary forms of the disease. M. tuberculosis is a slow-growing, rod-shaped bacterium with a waxy cell wall that makes it resistant to many disinfectants and antibiotics. TB spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing bacteria-laden droplets. Early detection and appropriate antibiotic treatment are essential to managing and controlling TB. In addition to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, other related species like Mycobacterium bovis can also cause tuberculosis, particularly in animals. The development of the BCG vaccine and advances in antibiotic therapy have significantly reduced TB incidence and mortality rates worldwide.